fraidy-cat
3
8.1
- noun
- /ˈfreɪdiˌkæt/
- Informal
- Don't be such a fraidy-cat.
- a little fraidy-cat
Examples
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Stop being such a fraidy-cat and try the roller coaster with us!
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And, well, you know what a 'fraidy cat I am of the dark.
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Hey, let me out of here, you stupid fraidy cat!
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And you wanted to take the train, you 'fraidy cat.
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Of course, if you're a fraidy-cat...
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Don't be such a fraidy-cat!
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Don't be a fraidy-cat.
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The little boy was called a fraidy-cat because he was scared of the thunder.
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Even though it was just a movie, she felt like a fraidy-cat during the scary scenes.
Synonyms
57
8.4
A person who is easily frightened and not brave
5
9.9
Feeling afraid easily, often by sudden or loud things
1
9.9
A person who is too easily frightened to try new things
1
7.4
A person who often feels scared of things like heights or crowds
1
7.4
A person who gets scared easily by not very dangerous things
How Timid
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Fraidy-cat comes from the short form afraid (meaning 'scared') plus cat, a playful name like scaredy-cat used to tease someone for being easily scared. So, it means a person, often a child, who is easily frightened.