chicken little
Cries wolf constantly
Chicken Little is someone who panics over minor threats or spreads alarm about dangers that don't exist—from the folktale character who believes the sky is falling after an acorn hits his head.
The term dismisses warnings as hysterical overreaction: Climate scientists are tired of being called Chicken Littles.
Often used to discredit legitimate concerns.
- Henny PennyAlarmist bird from folklore
- alarmistOne who overstates threats
- worryTroubled mental state
- skyVisible overhead expanse
- sensationalismOverhyped news coverage
the sky is falling · false alarm · doomsayer · doom and gloom · fear mongering · fable · folk tale · children's story · groupthink · tempest in a teapot · catastrophizing · worst case scenario · end of the world · moral tale · fake news · panic · anxiety · acorn
- fablesfable, Aesop, Aesop's fables, Aesop fables, tortoise and hare
chicken littlestoic
Uncomplaining endurer of hardship
cool head · voice of reason · unflappable · steady hand · nerves of steel
chicken littleCassandra
Ignored prophet of doom
Paul Revere · prophet · truth-teller · whistleblower · canary in the coal mine
chicken littlePollyanna
Excessively positive person
optimist · head in the sand · ostrich · denier · risk-taker