run around like a chicken with its head cut off

verb

To act in a haphazard or aimless way; to act frantically or without control.

“The president doesn't know what to do. He's running around like a chicken with its head cut off.”

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Meanings

verbrun around like a chicken with its head cut off (third-person singular simple present runs around like a chicken with its head cut off, present participle running around like a chicken with its head cut off, simple past ran around like a chicken with its head cut off, past participle run around like a chicken with its head cut off)

present singular third person runs around like a chicken with its head cut off · participle present running around like a chicken with its head cut off · past ran around like a chicken with its head cut off · alternative run around like a chicken with no head · alternative run around like a headless chicken · alternative run around like a chicken with its head off

  1. idiomaticTo act in a haphazard or aimless way; to act frantically or without control.

    The president doesn't know what to do. He's running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

Translations

Finnish kuin päätön kana
  • kuin päätön kanaTo act in a haphazard or aimless way
German kopflos herumrennen
  • kopflos herumrennenTo act in a haphazard or aimless way
Russian носиться, как угорелый
  • носиться, как угорелый (nositʹsja, kak ugorelyj)To act in a haphazard or aimless way
Scottish Gaelic mar chù a' mùin air an t-sneachd
  • mar chù a' mùin air an t-sneachdTo act in a haphazard or aimless way
Spanish ir como pollo sin cabeza
  • ir como pollo sin cabezaTo act in a haphazard or aimless way
Swedish springa omkring som yra höns
  • springa omkring som yra hönsTo act in a haphazard or aimless way
Vietnamese chạy như con gà cắt cổ
  • chạy như con gà cắt cổTo act in a haphazard or aimless way
Cite this entry
APA

run around like a chicken with its head cut off. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20around%20like%20a%20chicken%20with%20its%20head%20cut%20off

MLA

“run around like a chicken with its head cut off.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20around%20like%20a%20chicken%20with%20its%20head%20cut%20off. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “run around like a chicken with its head cut off,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/run%20around%20like%20a%20chicken%20with%20its%20head%20cut%20off.

Source: run around like a chicken with its head cut off on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.