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Chicken Out

What Does "Chicken Out" Mean?

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"Chicken out" is an English idiom. It means "to decide not to do something because of fear or cowardice."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "chicken out" used in a sentence:
  • I was going to go skydiving, but I chickened out at the last minute.
  • Don't chicken out now! We're almost there.
  • She was excited about the roller coaster, but chickened out when she saw how tall it was.
meaning for chicken out

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Chicken Out" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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