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Glite Dictionary
to pussy out

to pussy out

9 9.9
To back out of something because you feel afraid
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈpʌsi aʊt/
  • Offensive
translation icon : acojonarse (vulgar)
  • - Come on, don't puss out on us.
  • just pussy out
  • going to pussy out

Not even going to feel it because I'm just going to pussy out.

Examples

Synonyms

to back down
vsto pussy out
107 3.7

To stop insisting because others oppose you

is motivated by personal fear or lack of courage rather than external pressure
to back out
vsto pussy out
  • Informal
79 3.4

Decide not to do something you promised to do

is specifically refusal motivated by fear or low courage rather than a change
to chicken out
vsto pussy out
  • Informal
42 6.2

Decide not to do something difficult or risky because you are afraid

is a vulgar slang way to describe the same fear-based refusal
to duck out
vsto pussy out
  • Informal
12 7.2

To leave a place quickly and quietly to avoid something you should do

is more about open fear-based avoidance than quiet or secret departure
to be a wuss
vsto pussy out
  • Offensive
8 9.9

To be too afraid to do something

is more vulgar and blunt when naming fear-based avoidance
to cop out
vsto pussy out
  • Informal
5 7.8

Avoid a task you should do by making an excuse

focuses more on avoiding by fear rather than excuse-based avoidance
to turtle up
vsto pussy out
  • Informal
9.8

To become quiet and avoid people when feeling stressed or afraid

is an active refusal due to fear rather than an inward emotional retreat

Antonyms

to face
∞ 2.2

To deal with a difficult situation or person

How Brave

to stand firm
22 3.7
to confront
359 4.4
to pussy out
  • Offensive
9 9.9
to freeze
244 1.6

Surface Forms

pussy out infinitive
pussying out present participle
pussies out third person singular
pussed out past
pussed out past participle

Morphology

pussy + out

The verb is built from a vulgar noun used metaphorically (pussy → 'coward') plus the particle 'out' meaning to withdraw, so there is a clear metaphorical logic. However, the metaphorical/slang sense of 'pussy' is not predictable from the literal anatomical meaning and requires exposure to coarse slang and register, so a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words would not reliably infer the idiomatic meaning.

Etymology

Pussy out may come from the image of a frightened cat: pussy (a cat) running away or hiding, so to pussy out means to step back or leave because you are scared. That's why it now means 'to back out of something or avoid doing something because you are scared'.