- Idiom – Yellow-belly.
- Meaning – To be a coward or easily scared. This expression is used to describe a person who is not brave.
- This expression can also be used in the form yellow-bellied.
- A person who is always frightened can also be known as a chicken.
Idioms with the Colour Yellow:
- Code yellow – This expression is used when somebody has accidentally urinated in a place other than the toilet.
- Yellow brick road – A path to success.
- Yellow light – Slow down or proceed with caution.
- Yellow streak – Similar to yellow-belly, this expression is used to describe a person with a tendency to be scared easily.
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- Somebody is too frightened to perform an action.
- You are trying to convince somebody to be brave.
- A person is afraid to stand up and make a speech.
- Your friend is nervous about asking somebody out on a date.
Example:
- “You’ve liked John for ages. Stop being such a yellow-belly and ask him out for dinner!”
Discuss:
- Is there an idiom like this in your country?
What is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.