chicken
Very High (A1)Informal, Neutral, Culinary, Slang
Definition
Meaning
A domestic fowl kept for its eggs or meat, especially a young one.
The flesh of the domestic fowl as food. Also, used as a slang term for a coward or to describe something cowardly (verb/adjective). In informal contexts, a game or challenge, especially one involving a dare.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Polysemous word. The primary meaning is zoological/culinary. The metaphorical extension to 'coward' is informal/slang. The verb meaning 'to act cowardly' (often with 'out') is phrasal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major semantic differences. The game 'chicken' (dare) is understood in both. Culinary terms might vary (e.g., 'spring chicken' vs. specific breed names). Spelling identical.
Connotations
The 'coward' connotation is equally strong in both variants. 'Chicken' as a term of endearment for a child is slightly more British.
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both varieties in all core meanings.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to chicken out (of something)to play chickento be no spring chickenVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “don't count your chickens before they hatch”
- “a chicken and egg situation”
- “like a headless chicken”
- “run around like a headless chicken”
- “spring chicken”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in specific industries (e.g., 'poultry farming', 'fast-food chicken franchise').
Academic
In biological/agricultural contexts. The idiom 'a chicken-and-egg problem' is used in philosophy/systems theory.
Everyday
Extremely common: food, describing cowardice, playful dares.
Technical
In veterinary science, animal husbandry, and culinary arts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was going to bungee jump but chickened out at the last minute.
- Don't chicken on me now, we made a deal!
American English
- She chickened out of asking for a raise.
- They were playing a game of dare, and he totally chickened.
adverb
British English
- Not standard; rarely used.
American English
- Not standard; rarely used.
adjective
British English
- That was a chicken thing to do, leaving your friends like that.
- He's too chicken to walk home alone in the dark.
American English
- Don't be chicken, just go talk to her.
- It was a chicken move to cancel via text.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We had chicken and rice for dinner.
- The little yellow chickens are so cute.
- I don't like chicken soup.
- Are you chicken? Why won't you go on the rollercoaster?
- I bought a whole chicken to roast for Sunday lunch.
- She felt like a headless chicken trying to get ready on time.
- It's a classic chicken-and-egg problem: does poverty cause crime, or does crime cause poverty?
- He promised to confront the manager but chickened out at the office door.
- The recipe calls for chicken stock, not water.
- The political debate devolved into a game of chicken, with neither side willing to compromise.
- The subsidy reform is politically fraught, a real chicken-and-egg scenario for the developing economy.
- His bravado was just a facade; beneath it, he was fundamentally chicken-hearted.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound a chicken makes: 'chick-chick-chicken'. The word sounds like its common call.
Conceptual Metaphor
COWARDICE IS BEING A CHICKEN (fearful bird). A COMPLEX CAUSAL PROBLEM IS A 'CHICKEN-AND-EGG' SITUATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'chicken' as 'цыплёнок' in all contexts. For meat, use 'курица'. 'Цыплёнок' implies a very young chicken.
- The idiom 'курица не птица' has a different meaning (dismissive) and is not a direct equivalent of any common 'chicken' idiom in English.
- The adjective 'куриный' corresponds to 'chicken' only in the sense 'of/from a chicken' (e.g., chicken broth), not for the coward sense.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect article: 'I ate a chicken' (means one whole bird) vs. 'I ate chicken' (means the meat).
- Using 'chicken' as a countable noun for meat: 'I'd like two chickens' (wrong for portions) vs. 'I'd like two pieces of chicken'.
- Confusing 'hen' (adult female chicken) with the generic term.
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'don't count your chickens before they hatch' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's both. Countable for the live bird (three chickens in the yard). Uncountable for the meat (I eat chicken every week).
'Chicken' is the general term. A 'hen' is an adult female chicken. A 'rooster' (US) or 'cockerel' (UK) is an adult male chicken.
It's informal and teasing, often used among children or friends. It's mildly insulting but not a severe slur. Context is key.
From the perceived timid and flighty behaviour of chickens when threatened. The term has been used this way since at least the 14th century.
Collections
Part of a collection
Food and Drink
A1 · 49 words · Common words for food, drink and meals.