chicken-livered
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of chicken-livered
An Americanism dating back to 1870–75
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.
Rainie said, “He’s chicken-livered, that’s what it is.”
From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls
A weak-kneed, chicken-livered, white-bellied old bullfrog that squeaks and jumps, plunk! into the puddle when a footstep falls in the grass!
From The Maid-At-Arms by Robert W. (Robert William) Chambers
I'm not chicken-livered, Raffles, but I'm mighty glad my lines are cast in less strenuous scenes.
From R. Holmes & Co. by John Kendrick Bangs
He's a nervous, chicken-livered kind of man; and when I look at him he turns the colour of putty.
From The Stark Munro Letters by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
“But,” said he, “I have a right as a ’prentice—” “’Prentice!” shouted I, “you a ’prentice! a mean, chicken-livered, gluttonous sneak like you, a ’prentice! ’fore heaven, you do the craft honour!
From Sir Ludar A Story of the Days of the Great Queen Bess by Talbot Baines Reed
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.
