scaredy-cat
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does scaredy-cat mean? A scaredy-cat is a person who is easily frightened. Scaredy-cat is very informal and is most often used by children. It is synonymous with fraidy-cat. Example: He won’t go into the haunted house because he’s a scaredy-cat.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of scaredy-cat
First recorded in 1930–35; scared ( def. ) + -y 2 + cat ( def. ) (in the slang sense “person, man”)
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.
During wilderness orientation in Canada, Naomi said she was the "biggest scaredy-cat - I vocalised my nerves" and thinks this made others write her off.
From BBC • Sep. 8, 2023
“Ava’s a scaredy-cat of any loud noises,” said Rori Chang, who was there with her golden retriever.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 3, 2023
Well, I can’t help my love for scaredy-cat canines who are bedeviled by the scary and supernatural.
From New York Times • Mar. 5, 2021
I honestly didn’t expected it to, as I’m a complete scaredy-cat — I have never been able to handle any “Resident Evil” game.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2021
I feel ashamed of myself for being a scaredy-cat.
From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez
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.
