yellowbellies
Those lacking courage
Yellowbellies is a derogatory term for cowards—people who lack courage or nerve.
The image connects to the belly as the seat of fear (butterflies, gut feelings) and yellow as the color of cowardice: Those yellowbellies ran at the first sign of trouble.
The singular yellowbelly and the adjective yellow-bellied carry the same meaning.
Timid, gutless people
- chickensDomestic fowl for eggs
- scaredy-catsEasily frightened people
- fraidy-catsTimid, easily frightened ones
- sissiesCowardly or weak people
weaklings · milquetoasts · cowards · cravens · milksops · namby-pamby · quitters · defeatists
Contemptibly lacking nerve
- pusillanimousLacking courage or determination
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
- spinelessLacking courage or resolve
- gutlessLacking bravery or nerve
chickenhearted · lily-livered · white-livered · timid · dastardly · recreant · poltroon · milksop
Rapid escape from danger
- retreatingMoving back from advance
- surrenderingCeasing to resist
- capitulatingCeasing to resist
- coweringShrinking in fear
flinching · balking · hesitating · shrinking · quailing · blanching · wavering · faltering
wimps
Timid, gutless people
- chickensDomestic fowl for eggs
- scaredy-catsEasily frightened people
- fraidy-catsTimid, easily frightened ones
sissies · weaklings · milquetoasts · cowards · cravens · milksops · namby-pamby · quitters · defeatists · wusses
craven
Contemptibly lacking nerve
- pusillanimousLacking courage or determination
- faintheartedCowardly, easily discouraged
- spinelessLacking courage or resolve
gutless · chickenhearted · lily-livered · white-livered · timid · dastardly · recreant · poltroon · milksop · unheroic
fleeing
Rapid escape from danger
- retreatingMoving back from advance
- surrenderingCeasing to resist
- capitulatingCeasing to resist
cowering · flinching · balking · hesitating · shrinking · quailing · blanching · wavering · faltering · caving
eels
Snakelike aquatic creatures
- localsArea's permanent inhabitants
yellowbellieschampions
Contest winners, top performers
stalwarts · legends · stand-up guys · true grit · straight shooters
yellowbelly, yellow, belly, yellows, yellowed, yellowing, yellowish, bellies, bellied