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Showing results for chicken out. Search instead for chickens consume.
Definitions

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.

Talking to the only other couple who managed not to chicken out like we did, I’ll never forget the looks on their faces when they learned we’d left in the midnight hour.

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2025

Murdaugh testified that he saw them around the same time he took a chicken out of the mouth of one of their dogs, Bubba, who had been chasing the chicken on their property.

From Washington Post • Feb. 23, 2023

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

From Seattle Times • Mar. 16, 2022

I didn’t just chicken out of it, so I am definitely proud of that.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2022

And before I have a chance to chicken out, I close my door, shut off the light, peel down to my boxers, and climb under the covers.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements