Have you ever stood at the edge of a diving board heart pounding, while your friends yell “don’t be chicken!” from below? Or maybe you’ve used this phrase yourself to encourage a hesitant friend to ask someone on a date. This simple but powerful idiom has been motivating people to face their fears for centuries – but where did it come from, and why do we still use it today?
As someone who’s both fascinated by language and occasionally guilty of “chickening out” myself, I’ve dug deep into the origins and uses of this common phrase. Let’s explore why being called a “chicken” is such a universal call to courage!
The Fearful Fowl: Why Chickens Symbolize Cowardice
To understand “don’t be chicken,” we need to look at the main character in this idiom – the humble chicken These barnyard birds have earned quite the reputation throughout history
- Chickens are prey animals who instinctively flee from danger
- They’re easily startled and make dramatic, flapping escapes
- Their nervous, skittish nature has become synonymous with fearfulness
This association between chickens and cowardice isn’t new. It dates back centuries in English culture. In fact Shakespeare used “chicken-hearted” as an insult in his plays as early as the 1600s! The chicken’s longstanding reputation as a fearful fowl created the perfect metaphor for human cowardice.
The Birth of a Popular Phrase
While chickens have symbolized cowardice for centuries, the specific phrase “don’t be chicken” likely emerged in the early 1900s. It’s a direct command urging someone not to be cowardly or afraid.
What makes this phrase so effective is its playful but pointed nature. When someone tells you “don’t be chicken,” they’re:
- Challenging your courage
- Using humor to motivate you
- Creating peer pressure to be brave
- Simplifying your options (be brave or be a chicken)
The phrase strikes that perfect balance between teasing and encouraging, making it an effective tool for pushing people outside their comfort zones.
How We Use “Don’t Be Chicken” Today
This versatile phrase appears in countless situations where courage is needed. Here are some common ways people use it:
To Encourage Risk-Taking
“Don’t be chicken – ask her out already!”
“I know you’re nervous about the presentation, but don’t be chicken. You’ll do great!”
As a Playful Challenge
“Last one in the pool is a chicken!”
“Don’t be chicken – try this spicy sauce!”
To Motivate Personal Growth
“Don’t be chicken about changing careers. You’ve wanted this for years!”
“Taking that art class terrifies you? Don’t be chicken – everyone starts somewhere!”
In Pop Culture and Marketing
The phrase appears everywhere from children’s books to advertising slogans. A skydiving company might use “Don’t be chicken, go skydiving!” on billboards, while friends at an amusement park might joke “don’t be chicken!” before riding a scary roller coaster.
There’s even food products like “Don’t Be Chick’n Veggie Patties” that cleverly play on the dual meaning of chicken as both cowardice and poultry!
Variations on the Theme
Like many idioms, “don’t be chicken” has spawned several related phrases:
| Variation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| “Don’t be a chicken” | Same meaning, but uses the full noun |
| “Don’t chicken out” | Emphasizes not backing down from something already agreed to |
| “No chickening out!” | A command to follow through with plans |
| “Stop being a chicken!” | A more forceful version of the phrase |
| “Don’t get cold feet!” | Similar meaning but uses different imagery |
Each variation carries the same core message: overcome your fear and be brave!
Why This Phrase Has Staying Power
You might wonder why such a silly phrase comparing people to barnyard fowl has remained popular for so long. I think there are several compelling reasons:
It’s Funny
Let’s be honest – being compared to a clucking, flapping chicken is inherently amusing. The humor takes the sting out of being called cowardly and makes the challenge more palatable.
It’s Simple and Memorable
At just three common words, “don’t be chicken” is incredibly easy to remember and quick to say. It rolls off the tongue effortlessly.
It’s Culturally Embedded
The chicken=cowardice connection is so deeply ingrained in English-speaking cultures that even young children understand the meaning immediately.
It’s Adaptable
The phrase works for everything from tiny acts of courage (“don’t be chicken – try this strange food!”) to life-changing decisions (“don’t be chicken about moving across the country!”).
It’s Effective
Perhaps most importantly, it actually works! The mild social pressure and humorous framing often succeeds in pushing people to be braver than they might otherwise be.
The Psychology Behind “Don’t Be Chicken”
When someone says “don’t be chicken,” they’re tapping into powerful psychological motivators:
- Pride protection – Nobody wants to be labeled a coward
- Social inclusion – Being brave often means joining in with others
- Challenge response – Many people rise to challenges when directly confronted
- Reframing fear – The phrase helps people see their fear as optional rather than overwhelming
We humans are social creatures who care deeply about how we’re perceived. Being called “chicken” activates our desire to prove ourselves and maintain our status in the group.
Cultural Differences in “Chicken” Expressions
While the English “don’t be chicken” is widely understood, different cultures have their own animal-based cowardice expressions:
- In Spanish: “No seas gallina” (Don’t be a hen)
- In French: “Ne sois pas poule mouillée” (Don’t be a wet hen)
- In German: “Sei kein Angsthase” (Don’t be a fear-hare/rabbit)
- In Japanese: “Okubyō na koto wa nai” (Don’t be timid/cowardly – though not animal-based)
Interestingly, many cultures associate different animals with cowardice, though poultry seems particularly common!
When “Don’t Be Chicken” Goes Too Far
While this phrase can be motivating, we should acknowledge it has potential downsides:
- It can shame people for having legitimate fears
- It might pressure people into dangerous situations
- It oversimplifies complex emotional responses
- It can reinforce unhealthy risk-taking behaviors
Sometimes being cautious isn’t being “chicken” – it’s being sensible! There’s a fine line between encouraging reasonable courage and pressuring someone into something genuinely unsafe.
Real-Life Applications: When I Stopped Being “Chicken”
I’ve had my own experiences with overcoming the “chicken” label. When I was younger, my fear of public speaking was so severe I’d literally hide to avoid class presentations. My friends constantly told me “don’t be chicken,” but it never helped much.
What finally worked was reframing my thinking. Instead of seeing myself as “being chicken,” I started viewing each speaking opportunity as a chance to build my courage muscle. Small successes led to bigger ones, and eventually, I could speak without paralyzing fear.
This taught me that sometimes the “don’t be chicken” approach works best when it comes from within rather than from external pressure!
Fun Facts About “Don’t Be Chicken”
- The game of “chicken” (where two vehicles drive toward each other until someone swerves) comes from the same cowardice association
- Children’s media often uses this phrase to teach courage in age-appropriate ways
- Some language researchers believe animal-based insults are among the oldest in human languages
- The phrase appears in literature across many genres, from adventure stories to romance novels
Practical Tips for When Someone Tells You “Don’t Be Chicken”
Next time someone challenges you with this phrase, try these approaches:
- Assess the risk realistically – Is this actually dangerous or just uncomfortable?
- Consider the source – Is this person looking out for your growth or just pressuring you?
- Reframe the challenge – Think “I’m being brave” rather than “I’m not being chicken”
- Start small – If something terrifies you, find a smaller version to try first
- Use the motivation constructively – Let the challenge push you to grow, not just to avoid embarrassment
“Don’t be chicken” has endured as a phrase because it taps into something fundamental about human nature – our struggle between fear and courage. While sometimes overused or misapplied, at its heart it’s a call to be braver than we think we can be.
The next time you find yourself hesitating at life’s diving boards – whether literal or metaphorical – maybe that little voice saying “don’t be chicken” is exactly what you need to hear. Just make sure it’s pushing you toward growth, not recklessness!
What situations make YOU feel like a chicken? And how do you overcome that feeling? I’d love to hear about your experiences with facing fears and finding courage!
Remember, even the bravest among us feel fear – we just learn to take the leap anyway. So don’t be chicken about embracing your courage!
Have you ever looked at the price of two chicken breasts and compared these to the price of a whole chicken?
More often than not the price is very similar but just think, when you buy a whole bird, you get the two breasts and more. In these times it pays to be a bit savvy with every penny, so I say buy the whole bird! By doing so I made two meals that will feed a family of four* for around $30! Although you will have to get your hands dirty. Firstly, take a sharp knife and run the blade down the backbone of the chook to remove the breast. Repeat on the other side to give you two breasts including the tenderloin. This you will use in the Chicken Piccata recipe. Now fold the leg backward until you break the joint between the thigh and hip. Use the knife to remove it completely. Repeat this on the other side. To remove the wings, pull the wing to the side and cut through the skin. Similar as you did with the thigh-hip joint, you need to break the shoulder joint, folding it to the side. Then, take the knife and remove the wing completely and repeat on the other side. Remove any remaining skin on the carcass and place this in a big pot of cold water along with a bay leaf, a quartered onion and some garlic (neither of which need peeling) along with 1–2 carrots, and any other veggie scraps you may have. The broccoli stalk is perfect. Bring to a boil then turn down the heat and simmer for at least 4 hours. The liquid should have more than halved. Strain and season well. This stock will keep in the fridge for a week or can be frozen.
This modest dish really is delectable! If the kids are wary of the capers just serve theirs up avoiding any of the green pods because you will definitely enjoy the saltiness they bring to the dish and omitting them completely will leave it unbalanced. I serve this with good old mashed potato and some steamed broccoli.
2 chicken breasts ½ tsp salt ½ tsp white pepper 3 tbsp flour 30g butter, cut into pieces 3 tbsp olive oil ½ red onion, finely diced 1 garlic clove, minced ¾ cup chicken stock juice and zest of a lemon 2 tbsp capers, drained parsley, chopped
Season the flour with salt and pepper, then dredge the chicken in the flour.
Melt 20g of the butter with 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken in the hot butter and sauté until golden brown, about 2½–3 minutes per side, until cooked through. Set the chicken aside on a plate. Add a tablespoon of olive oil along with the diced red onion to the pan and sauté until soft and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute longer. Add the stock and simmer for 3–4 minutes.
Stir in the remaining butter along with capers, lemon juice, and zest to taste. Check the seasoning and adjust if needed, then add the chicken back in. Cook for a further 2 minutes before adding parsley and serving.
Psalty: Don’t be a Chicken
FAQ
What does don’t be a chicken mean?
What does it mean to be no chicken?
slang. no longer young. she’s no chicken. See full dictionary entry for chicken.
What do they call fake chicken?
A “fake chicken” is commonly called plant-based chicken, vegan chicken, mock chicken, or meatless chicken. These terms describe meat substitutes made from plants, such as wheat, soy, or mycelium, that are designed to replicate the taste, texture, and appearance of real chicken.