a bully is always a coward

proverb A bully will only mistreat others perceived to be weaker. Of course he always picks on kids who are smaller than him. A bully is always a coward. A bully is always a coward, so try standing up to him—I bet he'll back down. You don't scare me, Jack, because I know the truth about bullies like you. I know that a bully is always a coward!

conscience does make cowards of us all

proverb The conscience often prevents one from doing things that one wants to do (perhaps things that wrong or inappropriate). The phrase comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet. I really want to insult him back, but I just can't. Ugh, conscience does make cowards of us all. You would never actually cheat on the test, though, because conscience does make cowards of us all A: "No, I backed out. Conscience does make cowards of us all." B: "In this case, thank goodness, because you would have been arrested otherwise!"

See also: all, conscience, coward, does, make, of

cowards die many times before their death(s)

proverb People who constantly fear death feel the stress associated with it many times before actually dying. This phrase comes from Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar. It's really true that cowards die many times before their death—what would be a simple task for someone else causes me great anxiety. I know that cowards die many times before their death, which is why I try not to stress about anything too much. After all, we only get one life! You must be brave in this world because cowards die many times before their deaths.

See also: before, coward, die, many, times

take the coward's way out

euphemism To kill oneself; to commit suicide. His father was millions of dollars in debt, but rather than face up to his obligations, he just took the coward's way out. No matter how things get, I will never take the coward's way out.

bully is always a coward

Prov. Bullies will only intimidate people who are much weaker than they are, because they are afraid of losing a fight. Child: Dad, Joey keeps picking on me. How can I make him stop? Father: Try fighting back. A bully is always a coward. Bill took advantage of the younger children, but he was quiet and docile around the older ones. A bully is always a coward.

Conscience does make cowards of us all.

Prov. People sometimes fear to do what they want or what they believe is necessary because they think it is wrong. (From Shakespeare's play, Hamlet.) Alan: I really want to go to the ball game with you guys this afternoon, but it just doesn't seem right to skip work to do it. Fred: Conscience does make cowards of us all, right, Alan?

See also: all, conscience, coward, does, make, of

Cowards die many times before their death(s).

Prov. Cowards are often afraid that they are going to die, so that they often feel what it is like to die, while brave people only feel the fear of death when they are really about to die. (From Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar.) Every time Nina went out alone, she was always afraid. Cowards die many times before their deaths.

See also: before, Coward, death, die, many, times

take the coward's way out

Euph. to kill oneself. When faced with financial disaster, Sarah took the coward's way out. I can't believe that Bill would take the coward's way out. His death must have been an accident.