chicken-hearted
Definition
- Adjective:
- Lacking courage; timid: "chicken-hearted" describes a person who is easily frightened, lacks bravery, or is excessively cautious in the face of danger or difficulty. The word combines "chicken" (a bird often associated with fearfulness) and "hearted" (referring to one's character or disposition).
Usage Examples
- (He lacked the courage to protest.)
- (The soldier was cowardly and ran away.)
- (Do not be timid; take a risk.)
Advanced Usage
"to be chicken-hearted about something": to be excessively fearful or hesitant regarding a specific matter.
- She was chicken-hearted about trying the spicy food. (She was afraid to attempt it.)
"chicken-heartedness" (noun): the state or quality of being cowardly.
- His chicken-heartedness prevented him from taking any risks in life. (His timidity held him back.)
Variants and Related Words
Chicken (noun/adjective): a bird; also used informally to mean a coward or cowardly person.
- Don't be a chicken! (Do not be a coward.)
Hearted (adjective suffix): indicating a particular kind of disposition or character (e.g., kind-hearted, hard-hearted).
Chicken-livered (adjective): another term for cowardly, similar in meaning to "chicken-hearted."
- He was chicken-livered and refused to fight. (He was a coward.)
Synonyms
- Cowardly: lacking courage; easily frightened.
- Timid: showing a lack of courage or confidence; shy.
- Fearful: feeling or showing fear; afraid.
- Fainthearted: lacking courage; timid.
Antonyms
- Brave: ready to face and endure danger or pain; courageous.
- Courageous: not deterred by danger or pain; brave.
- Bold: showing a willingness to take risks; confident and courageous.
Related Idioms
To have a chicken heart: to be cowardly or timid.
- He has a chicken heart; he never stands up for himself. (He is a coward.)
To chicken out: to decide not to do something because of fear (a phrasal verb derived from the same idea).
- She was going to jump, but she chickened out at the last moment. (She lost her nerve.)