chicken out
/ˌtʃɪkɪn ˈaʊt/
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Type
Phrasal verb
- Informal
Meaning
To decide not to do something out of fear or lack of courage.
He planned to audition for the play, but he chickened out at the last minute.
Don't chicken out now after preparing for weeks.
How it's used
- chicken out
- chicken out of the jump
Say “chickened out of it.” Not “chicken it out.”
She chickened out of skydiving once she looked down.
Collocations
- chicken out of an agreement