chicken out of something

chicken out of (something)

slang To refuse to do something due to fear (real or perceived). Jumping off the high-dive is fun! Don't chicken out of it now! I didn't chicken out of anything, I just changed my mind, OK? I knew John would chicken out of stealing the mascot—his tough-guy persona is just an act.

See also: chicken, of, out

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

chicken out (of something)

in. to manage to get out of something, usually because of fear or cowardice. Freddy chickened out of the plan at the last minute.

See also: chicken, of, out, something

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