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Synonyms

fraidy-cat

American  
[frey-dee-kat] / ˈfreɪ diˌkæt /

noun

Informal.
  1. a timid, easily frightened person: often used by children.


Etymology

Origin of fraidy-cat

1905–10; fraid (aphetic form of afraid ) + -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Kicking was fraidy-cat tactics, but diverted blame from Quinn to Atlanta’s defensive players.

From New York Times • Nov. 10, 2015

A cellar-dweller doesn’t best an undefeated club by using fraidy-cat tactics.

From New York Times • Nov. 10, 2015

I thought, OK, well, let’s say I’m just a fraidy-cat.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 4, 2015

And by the time one particular horror is massaged out of existence another crops up like a spook in the closet of a "fraidy-cat" girl, and then the business is begun all over again.

From The Woman Beautiful or, The Art of Beauty Culture by Stevans, Helen Follett

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