• 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.