puss out
Lose your nerve
To puss out is to back down from something out of fear or lack of nerve—a vulgar variation of wimp out or chicken out.
The puss comes from pussycat, suggesting timidity: He was going to ask her out but pussed out at the last second.
Sometimes spelled pussy out.
- back downWithdraw from a stance
- cave inCollapse or yield
- timidityFearful lack of courage
- back offStop pressing someone
- cowardiceAbsence of bravery
backpedal · fear · spinelessness · withdraw · flinch · shirk · get cold feet · faintheartedness · run scared · turn tail · retreat · balk · yellow belly · yield · shrink · hesitate · recoil · dodge
courage and follow-through
puss outman up
Embrace toughness, colloquially
step up · follow through · face the music · stand firm · hold your ground