milk-livered
Definition
Adjective (milk-livered): - Cowardly, timid, or lacking courage: A person who is "milk-livered" is excessively fearful, weak-willed, or easily intimidated. The term derives from the medieval belief that the liver was the seat of courage, and that a pale or "milky" liver indicated a lack of bravery.
Usage Examples
- (He was too cowardly to confront the aggressor.)
- (The general considered the soldier a coward for running away.)
- (Her timidity prevented her from seizing the opportunity.)
Advanced Usage
- Historical/Literary Context: "Milk-livered" is an archaic or poetic term, most famously used by Shakespeare in (Act IV, Scene 2): In such contexts, it conveys strong contempt for a person's lack of fortitude.
- Figurative Extension: The term can also describe an institution, policy, or action that is weak or spineless.
- The government's milk-livered response to the crisis only emboldened the rebels. (The weak response encouraged further rebellion.)
Variants and Related Words
- Lily-livered (adj): A more common synonym, also meaning cowardly. Both "milk-livered" and "lily-livered" use the color white (milk, lily) to suggest paleness and fear.
- White-livered (adj): Another archaic variant with the same meaning.
- Liver (n): The organ historically associated with courage and emotion.
Synonyms
- Cowardly: lacking courage; easily frightened.
- Timid: showing a lack of confidence or boldness.
- Faint-hearted: lacking courage; irresolute.
- Craven: contemptibly lacking in courage.
Related Idioms
To have a yellow streak: To be cowardly or easily scared.
- He has a yellow streak a mile wide; he'll never take a risk. (He is extremely timid.)
To turn tail: To run away from danger or difficulty.
- When the protest turned violent, the milk-livered leader turned tail and fled. (He ran away in fear.)