Phrase guide

chicken out

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To shy away from a daring task; to decline, refuse, or avoid something due to fear or uncertainty.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • We almost convinced his dad to ride the roller coaster, but he chickened out when he saw how high it went.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

remove oneself from an obligation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He bowed out when he heard how much work was involved

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: back off, pull out, back down, bow out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: retire, withdraw

Narrower terms: resile

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

41 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Basque: kikildu — shy away from a daring task
  • Dutch: terugdeinzen — shy away from a daring task
  • Finnish: jänistää — shy away from a daring task
  • French: se dégonfler — shy away from a daring task
  • French: lâcher — shy away from a daring task
  • French: laisser tomber — shy away from a daring task
  • French: lâcher l'affaire — shy away from a daring task
  • German: kneifen — shy away from a daring task
  • German: Schiss kriegen — shy away from a daring task
  • German: davor zurückschrecken — shy away from a daring task
  • Italian: tirarsi indietro — shy away from a daring task
  • Persian: جا زدن (jâ zadan) — shy away from a daring task
  • Polish: tchórzyć — shy away from a daring task
  • Polish: stchórzyć — shy away from a daring task
  • Portuguese: amarelar — shy away from a daring task
  • Portuguese: acovardar-se — shy away from a daring task
  • Russian: испуга́ться (ispugátʹsja) — shy away from a daring task
  • Russian: стру́сить (strúsitʹ) — shy away from a daring task
  • Russian: засса́ть (zassátʹ) — shy away from a daring task
  • Russian: забзде́ть (zabzdétʹ) — shy away from a daring task
  • Russian: усса́ться (ussátʹsja) — shy away from a daring task
  • Russian: обосса́ться (obossátʹsja) — shy away from a daring task
  • Russian: усра́ться (usrátʹsja) — shy away from a daring task
  • Russian: обосра́ться (obosrátʹsja) — shy away from a daring task
  • Spanish: acobardarse — shy away from a daring task
  • Spanish: apencarse — shy away from a daring task
  • Spanish: apendejarse — shy away from a daring task
  • Spanish: ciscarse — shy away from a daring task
  • Spanish: rajarse — shy away from a daring task
  • Spanish: achicarse — shy away from a daring task
  • Spanish: apajuilarse — shy away from a daring task
  • Spanish: papelonearse — shy away from a daring task
  • Spanish: achumicarse — shy away from a daring task
  • Spanish: apulismarse — shy away from a daring task
  • Spanish: aculillarse — shy away from a daring task
  • Spanish: achicopalarse — shy away from a daring task
  • Spanish: arratonarse — shy away from a daring task
  • Spanish: jiñarse — shy away from a daring task
  • Swedish: fega ur — shy away from a daring task
  • Thai: ป๊อด (bpɔ́ɔt) — shy away from a daring task
  • Ukrainian: злякатися (zljakatysja) — shy away from a daring task