chicken out

British  

verb

1. informal (intr, adverb) to fail to do something through fear or lack of conviction

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chicken out Idioms  

1. Back out from fear, lose one's nerve, as in In the end I chickened out and took the easier route down the mountain. Chicken is a popular synonym for “cowardly,” a usage arising in the 1600s and 1700s but then apparently abandoned until the 20th century. [Slang; c. 1930]

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Example Sentences

“I hope this data helps people not chicken out — like, just go through the front door. It’s not that hard.”

From Salon • Nov. 30, 2023

“It’s really important when our country is going to crap, and maybe if it starts lightning right now, I might chicken out and run away,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 5, 2022

And now Chelsi Stone is glad she didn’t chicken out.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 16, 2022

I’d spread the chicken out like an open paperback and covered it with parsley, mushrooms and bread.

From New York Times • Jul. 21, 2020

Sanjeev went to the kitchen, which was empty, and ate a piece of chicken out of the tray on the counter with his fingers because he thought no one was looking.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri