chicken-hearted
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of chicken-hearted
An Americanism dating back to 1675–85
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.
All of this only makes Moran’s willingness to stand up for the separation of powers and for democratic values more commendable - and the calculus of his colleagues more chicken-hearted.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 25, 2019
In the 1970s, the strapping Mr. Einstein debuted the character of Super Dave Osborne, a clumsy, chicken-hearted knockoff of flamboyant motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 2, 2019
In this toxic climate, what chicken-hearted wimp would dare step from the shadows and say: “Ecce Homo: Tis I”?
From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2018
My point is that the movie, which is sometimes very funny in the usual zany, pop-surrealist sketch-comedy manner, is studiously inoffensive and thoroughly chicken-hearted.
From New York Times ● Aug. 10, 2012
At the door, Smith said to Hickock, “No chicken-hearted jurors, they!”
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
