play chicken

verb

As a risky test of courage, to drive two vehicles directly toward one another in order to see which driver will swerve away first.

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Meanings

verbplay chicken (third-person singular simple present plays chicken, present participle playing chicken, simple past and past participle played chicken)

present singular third person plays chicken · participle present playing chicken · participle past played chicken · past played chicken

  1. idiomaticAs a risky test of courage, to drive two vehicles directly toward one another in order to see which driver will swerve away first.
  2. informalslangTo engage in a mutual challenge or threat, expecting the opponent to withdraw before an actual conflict or collision.
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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