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chicken
[chik-uhn]
noun
a domestic fowl, Gallus domesticus, descended from various jungle fowl, especially the red jungle fowl, and developed in a number of breeds for its flesh, eggs, and feathers.
the young of this bird, especially when less than a year old.
the flesh of the chicken, especially of the young bird, used as food.
Slang.
a cowardly or fearful person.
a young or inexperienced person, especially a young girl.
petty details or tasks.
unnecessary discipline or regulations.
a young gay male, especially one sought as a sexual partner by older men.
a contest in which two cars approach each other at high speed down the center of a road, the object being to force one's opponent to veer away first.
a policy or strategy of challenging an opponent to risk a clash or yield.
diplomats playing chicken at the conference table.
adjective
(of food) containing, made from, or having the flavor of chicken.
chicken salad; chicken soup.
Slang.
petty or trivial.
a chicken regulation.
obsessed with petty details, regulations, etc..
He's quitting this chicken outfit to become his own boss.
verb phrase
Slang
to refrain from doing something because of fear or cowardice.
I chickened out when I saw how deep the water was.
to renege or withdraw.
You can't chicken out of this business deal now.
chicken
/ ˈʃɪɪ /
noun
a domestic fowl bred for its flesh or eggs, esp a young one
the flesh of such a bird used for food
any of various similar birds, such as a prairie chicken
slanga cowardly person
slanga young inexperienced person
slangan underage boy or girl regarded as a potential target for sexual abuse
informalany of various, often dangerous, games or challenges in which the object is to make one's opponent lose his nerve
to be overoptimistic in acting on expectations which are not yet fulfilled
informaldisorganized and uncontrolled
slangno longer young
she's no chicken
adjective
slangeasily scared; cowardly; timid
Word History and Origins
Origin of chicken1
Word History and Origins
Origin of chicken1
Idioms and Phrases
count one's chickens before they are hatched, to rely on a benefit that is still uncertain.
They were already spending wildly, in anticipation of their inheritance, counting their chickens before they were hatched.
Example Sentences
Slow-roasted zucchini seasoned with lemon and herbs were paired with grilled chicken kebabs.
When I first wrote about the impact of the fires on dogs, cats, chickens and goldfish, I noted that Anthony Ruffin and Jonni Miller’s dog and two cats were badly shaken.
Since 1959, they’ve come for Chinese American classics such as sweet and sour chicken, barbecued pork chow mein, egg rolls, chop suey and shrimp fried rice.
She also used the money to start a vegetable garden and rear chicken and ducks, which she sold to other refugees, at a market.
Chef Carter’s culinary artistry shines in dishes like smoked Harrison farm chicken and seafood platters, featuring a standout smoked octopus that he’s especially proud of.
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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