chicken out

VERB

back down

Synonyms

WEAK

avoid back down back out back pedal beg off blow it off bow out cancel cop out funk out get cold feet give up give way go back on have no stomach for make concessions pull out recant renege resign scratch shy from surrender throw in the towel turn yellow weasel out wiggle out wimp out withdraw worm out yield

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.

“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

“We gave them the freedom to finish it, and not cop out. We didn’t want to chicken out of anything.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 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

Petey clenched his fist and ran through before he could chicken out.

From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles