wuss

wuss

slang Someone who is too nervous, afraid, or reserved to do anything too intense, extreme, or risky. We're all doing the bungie jump. Don't be a wuss, Bob! I remember calling other kids wusses because they didn't want to smoke, but now I realize that they were the brave ones.

wuss out (of something)

slang To withdraw from doing something out of fear, insecurity, or laziness. They were just about to strap me in for the bungee jump, but I wussed out at the last second. Jeff had promised to help, but he wussed out of the project when he realized how much work it would entail. Sorry, guys, Janet's wussing out of the road trip. She says she isn't comfortable being away from home for that long.

See also: out, wuss

wussy

slang Of, indicating, or characterizing someone who is too nervous, afraid, or reserved to do anything too intense, extreme, or risky. Touch football is just a wussy sport. Give me full-contact rugby any day! He said I was wussy just because I didn't want to smoke a cigarette.

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

wuss out

v. Slang

To withdraw from a commitment or course of action because of cowardice or insecurity: I was going to go into the haunted house, but then I wussed out and stayed in the car.

See also: out, wuss

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

wuss(y)

(ˈwʊs(i))

n. a wimp; a weak person. Don’t be such a wuss. Stand up for your rights.

wuss

verb

See wussy

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.