lily-livered
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of lily-livered
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.
He won't be so hobbled by his lily-livered inability to give a direct order next time, because, frankly, he won't have to.
From Salon ● Feb. 1, 2022
Fifa has shown little willingness to tackle any of this but there is no reason for the IOC to be so lily-livered.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 4, 2017
The Elizabethans referred to their monarch not as the head of state but as its liver, and woe to any people saddled with a lily-livered leader, whose bloodless cowardice would surely prove their undoing.
From New York Times ● Jun. 12, 2017
Naturally, Joseph Fuqua’s amusingly lily-livered marshal is of no help in the impending showdown between Valance and Foster.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2016
The boss cop said,“You lily-livered rats,” and it was like someone said, “On your mark, get set, go!”
From "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
