pussy out
Back down fearfully
To pussy out is to back down from something out of fear or weakness: He was going to ask her out but pussied out at the last minute.
The phrase implies cowardice and carries the same sexist undertones as calling someone a pussy.
- cave inCollapse or yield
- cowardiceAbsence of bravery
- spinelessnessLack of courage
- fearEmotional response to threat
- scared stiffImmobilized by extreme fright
no guts · renege · retreat · flinch · shrink back · get cold feet · back down · lose one's nerve · run away · withdraw · weakness · avoid · hesitation · evade · timidity · abandon · backtrack · yellow-bellied
pussy outman up
Embrace toughness, colloquially
step up · face the music · bite the bullet · take the plunge · cowboy up
pussy outsee it through
Continue until finished
stick it out · stay the course · hold firm · stand one's ground · keep one's word
pussy outfollow through
Complete an intended action
see it through · stick to one's guns · commit · stay the course · deliver
pussy, out, puss, pussies, outed, outing, outs, outer, outward