wussed out

Lost your nerve

Wussed out means backed down from something out of fear or timidity.

A wuss is someone easily frightened or lacking nerve, so to wuss out is to fail to follow through when courage is required: He was going to ask her out but wussed out at the last second.

The phrase implies the person had every opportunity but chose the cowardly path.

Related

surrendered · withdrew · caved in · threw in the towel · shied away · scaredy-cat · got cold feet · lost nerve · spinelessness · wimp · flinched · yellow-bellied · faintheartedness · balked · recoiled · retreated · backing down · trepidation

Opposites
courage and follow-through

wussed outmanned up

Summoned courage finally

stepped up · went for it · took the plunge · bit the bullet · sucked it up

commitment and resolve

wussed outfollowed through

Completed what was started

delivered · came through · committed · pulled the trigger · made good

Family

wuss, wussy, wussing, wusses, wussed, out, outed, outing, outs

Familiarity
Top 200,000
Profile
Known to kids · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG