act chicken

verb

To behave timidly, reluctantly, or afraid, especially when confronted with something new or unfamiliar

“Don't act chicken when the Principal walks through the door.”

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Meanings

verbact chicken (third-person singular simple present acts chicken, present participle acting chicken, simple past and past participle acted chicken)

present singular third person acts chicken · participle present acting chicken · participle past acted chicken · past acted chicken

  1. To behave timidly, reluctantly, or afraid, especially when confronted with something new or unfamiliar

    Don't act chicken when the Principal walks through the door.

Cite this entry
APA

act chicken. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/act%20chicken

MLA

“act chicken.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/act%20chicken. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “act chicken,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/act%20chicken.

Source: act chicken on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.