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chicken
/ˈt͡ʃɪkɪn/
When referring to the animal, 'chicken' is a countable noun. However, when referring to it as food (meat), it becomes an uncountable noun. Using 'chicken' to describe a person as cowardly is considered informal and can be seen as insulting or teasing. The verb form is almost always used with the word 'out' (to chicken out) to describe the act of deciding not to do something because of fear.
💬Casual Conversation
🎬Tuesday afternoon; Victoria is in a board meeting while David is hiding in his office.
Victoria
Are you actually presenting the Q3 data or are you just being a chicken?
David Smith
Just pivoting my strategy to ensure maximum synergy first.
💡
Victoria uses 'chicken' as a noun meaning a cowardly person to call out David's avoidance of the meeting. David responds with corporate buzzwords ('pivoting', 'synergy') to mask his fear, highlighting their power dynamic.