fighting-cock

A man lives like a fighting-cock.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A rooster bred for fighting: "fighting-cock" refers to a rooster specifically raised and trained for participation in cockfighting, a blood sport where birds are pitted against each other.
   • A combative person (figurative): In informal usage, "fighting-cock" can describe a person who is aggressive, quarrelsome, or eager to engage in conflict.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The farmer kept several fighting-cocks for the local derby. (Roosters trained for cockfighting.)
  • He strutted into the room like a fighting-cock, ready to argue with anyone. (A person with a confrontational attitude.)

Advanced Usage

• "to live like a fighting-cock": to live very well, with abundant and luxurious food and comfort.
  • After winning the lottery, she lived like a fighting-cock, dining on the finest dishes. (To enjoy a life of great indulgence and ease.)

Variants and Related Words

• Fighting (adj): engaged in or designed for combat.

  • The fighting spirit of the troops was high. (The readiness to fight was strong.)

• Cock (n): a male bird, especially a rooster.

  • The cock crowed at dawn. (The male chicken made its morning call.)

Synonyms

• Gamecock: a rooster bred for fighting.
• Brawler: a person who fights, especially aggressively.

Idioms

• "to be spoiling for a fight": to be eager to start a quarrel or conflict, similar to the aggressive nature of a fighting-cock.

  • He was spoiling for a fight after the insult. (He was ready and eager to engage in a physical or verbal confrontation.)

• "to have a chip on one's shoulder": to be habitually aggressive or ready to take offense, like a fighting-cock.

  • She always has a chip on her shoulder, looking for arguments. (She is constantly defensive and quarrelsome.)