chicken
1. noun, informal A game or challenge, especially a dangerous one, the loser of which being the first person to yield or lose their nerve. There was a group of boys that liked to play chicken on the train tracks, until one of them got his foot stuck and died. The two cars sped toward the cliff in a deadly game of chicken, with bragging rights going to whomever managed to get the closest to the edge without turning. If those teenagers keep playing chicken on this dangerous stretch of road, they're gonna get themselves killed.
2. noun, slang A coward. Sometimes used as a term of address. Don't be such a chicken! Everybody fudges their tax returns a little bit. A: "There's no way I'm sneaking out to go to some party." B: "Chicken!" John's always putting on this tough-guy façade, but I know that deep down he's a bit of a chicken.
3. noun, dated slang A young or inexperienced person. I'm no chicken, son. I've been at this work for over a decade! She may adopt a sagacious demeanor, but at 25, she is still a mere chicken. I refuse to take orders from a chicken like you, sonny! I've got grandkids older than you!
4. adjective, slang Cowardly; ignobly fearful. Oh, you're just chicken! Afraid of what the big, bad principal will do to you for cutting class. You would never steal the mascot, you're chicken! You're shaking just thinking about it right now! I'm not chicken, I just don't see the point in shoplifting some stupid lipstick!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.