To decide not to do something because you are too scared or nervous.
You were going to do something brave or scary, but at the last second you got too frightened and decided not to do it.
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To decide at the last moment not to do something because of fear or nervousness.
"He was supposed to jump off the diving board, but he chickened out at the last second."
I was going to ask her out, but I totally chickened out.
To withdraw from a commitment, challenge, or contest out of cowardice.
"She chickened out of the debate at the last minute, claiming she was ill."
To behave like a chicken — chickens are culturally associated with cowardice in English.
You were going to do something brave or scary, but at the last second you got too frightened and decided not to do it.
Always used intransitively and inseparably. Often used with 'of' to specify what the person backed out of: 'chicken out of doing something.' Common in British and American English alike. Can be used self-deprecatingly.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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