Scaredy-cat
Meaning
A person who is easily frightened, timid, or excessively cautious.
Origin
The playful insult "scaredy-cat" marries the childish diminutive "scaredy" with the common household feline. Cats, with their finely tuned senses and often skittish nature, are notorious for startling easily, leaping at the slightest unexpected noise or movement. This ingrained image of a perpetually jumpy cat, combined with the informal, almost taunting "scaredy," perfectly captured the essence of a timid individual. Though its exact birth year is hazy, the phrase solidified its place in the lexicon, particularly among children, by the mid-20th century, becoming an instantly recognizable and slightly mocking label for anyone easily frightened.
Examples
- My little brother is such a scaredy-cat; he won't even go into the dark basement alone.
- Don't be such a scaredy-cat; I promise the roller coaster isn't that scary!