chicken-livered
Lacking any courage
Chicken-livered means cowardly or easily frightened.
The liver was once thought to be the seat of courage, and a chicken's liver—small and pale—suggested timidity.
The word is mildly insulting but old-fashioned: Don't be so chicken-livered—just ask her out.
Chicken-hearted means the same thing.
Lacking courage or resolve
- cravenContemptibly lacking nerve
- pusillanimousLacking courage or determination
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
- yellow-belliedEasily frightened, timid
gutless · white-livered · dastardly · poltroon · recreant · milksop · milquetoast · wimp
Showing nervous apprehension
- skittishProne to nervous fright
- mousyShy and unassertive
- meekHumbly unassertive
- diffidentLacking self-assurance
shrinking · hesitant · apprehensive · quailing · tremulous · unassertive · nervous · jumpy
Feeling fear or alarm
- frightenedExperiencing sudden fear
- terrifiedExtremely frightened
- panickyOvercome by sudden fear
- afraidExperiencing dread or worry
spooked · alarmed · petrified · horror-struck · anxious · trepidatious · jittery · shaky
spineless
Lacking courage or resolve
- cravenContemptibly lacking nerve
- pusillanimousLacking courage or determination
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
yellow-bellied · gutless · white-livered · dastardly · poltroon · recreant · milksop · milquetoast · wimp · sissy
timorous
Showing nervous apprehension
diffident · shrinking · hesitant · apprehensive · quailing · tremulous · unassertive · nervous · jumpy · overcautious
scared
Feeling fear or alarm
- frightenedExperiencing sudden fear
- terrifiedExtremely frightened
- panickyOvercome by sudden fear
afraid · spooked · alarmed · petrified · horror-struck · anxious · trepidatious · jittery · shaky · unnerved
chicken, chickens, livery, livers, chicken-hearted, lily-livered, chickenhearted, liverish