Where does the expression, "What are you, chicken?" come from? Like why is that word used to describe someone with little courage? Sources would be nice....
2006-06-09 14:41:37 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "chicken" has been used at least since the 1500's to describe someone who is as "timorous and defenseless as a chicken."
It gives examples to support this derivation, including a quotation from Shakespeare describing someone as a chicken rather than an eagle.
I'm not sure why a chicken was considered any more timorous than other bird or animal, but I would guess that, at one time, most people had everyday experience with chickens.
2006-06-09 16:28:35 · answer #1 · answered by vanewimsey 4 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I would guess that chickens have apprehensive behavior, which could be attributed to a lack of courage
2006-06-09 14:47:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i theory it grow to be Oprah..they consistently play that clip of her declaring' "My VA J J's a painin' " on the Soup. i love Penini...it merely looks a lot classier than Paneenee, and may reason far a lot less confusion at Quiznos.
2016-11-14 10:08:23 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a chicken still runs around even when it's head is cut off
2006-06-09 16:04:52 · answer #4 · answered by sweet & sour 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
chickens are prey which means they will run if anything they think is a threat thats coming at them
2006-06-09 23:18:25 · answer #5 · answered by squishy_experiment_626 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's like saying, are you a coward?
2006-06-09 14:46:37 · answer #6 · answered by TopBoi4u 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋