scaredy-cat en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree English scared English -y Proto-Germanic *kattuz Proto-West Germanic *kattu Old English catt Middle English cat English cat English scaredy-cat From scared + -y + cat.
Meanings
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(endearing) A coward; a person who is easily frightened or high-strung and easily scared.
I don't care — I wouldn't be such a scaredy-cat for anything.
1918, Florence Kiper Frank, “The Child and the Little Sister”, in The Midland, volume 4, page 61:Oh, yes, do let's dance together—it's so nice to meet a man who isn't a scaredy-cat about catching my beri-beri.
1933, Dorothy Parker, The Waltz:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| scaredy-cats | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| scaredy cat | alternative | lexicographic |
Synonyms
quakebreech · recreant · scaredy cat · sissy · cocktail · pisspants · milquetoast · slag · fraidy cat · chicken liver · cowardy custard · chickenshit · piece of crap · fraidy cat · piece of shit · sluggard · quakebuttock · coistril · nidering · weak sister · invertebrate · lizard · nithing · nidget · gutless wonder · scaredy pants · yellow back · dog · pussyhole · niding · wheyface · pussy · funker · candy-ass · chicken · niddering · yellow belly · punk · candy-arse · caitiff · poltroon · jessie · sook · craven · snool · coward · shithouse · nancy · scaredy pants · quiche-eater · pullet · bottler
Translations (12)
mk др́сло (a coward; a person who is easily frightened or high-strung and easily scared) · mi toupiore (a coward; a person who is easily frightened or high-strung and easily scared) · hu gyáva nyúl (a coward; a person who is easily frightened or high-strung and easily scared) · es medroso (a coward; a person who is easily frightened or high-strung and easily scared) · mk ко́ркач (a coward; a person who is easily frightened or high-strung and easily scared) · fi pelkuri (a coward; a person who is easily frightened or high-strung and easily scared) · hu gyáva kukac (a coward; a person who is easily frightened or high-strung and easily scared) · mk стра́шливец (a coward; a person who is easily frightened or high-strung and easily scared) · mk пла́шливец (a coward; a person who is easily frightened or high-strung and easily scared) · es miedoso (a coward; a person who is easily frightened or high-strung and easily scared) · no reddhare (a coward; a person who is easily frightened or high-strung and easily scared) · de Angsthase (a coward; a person who is easily frightened or high-strung and easily scared)