Chickens have strutted into English in some of the funniest and most useful expressions. Think about a friend who “chickened out” before giving a speech, or someone told not to “count their chickens before they hatch.” These phrases add humour, caution, and colour to conversations. Chickens can symbolise fear, overconfidence, or even foolishness, making them perfect for lively idioms. Let’s peck through some chicken-inspired expressions that are sure to stick.
Chicken out
Meaning: To lose courage and avoid doing something.
Example: He wanted to try the rollercoaster but chickened out at the last minute.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
Meaning: Don’t assume success before it happens.
Example: She planned a party before the results came out—I told her not to count her chickens before they hatch.
Run around like a headless chicken
Meaning: To act in a confused or panicked way.
Example: He was running around like a headless chicken before the school play started.
Play chicken
Meaning: To engage in a risky contest to see who backs down first.
Example: The two drivers played chicken by speeding toward each other.
Mother hen
Meaning: Someone who is very protective of others.
Example: She’s always fussing over us like a mother hen.
Hen party
Meaning: A party for women before a wedding (like a bridal shower).
Example: They organised a fun hen party for the bride-to-be.
Henpecked
Meaning: A man controlled or bossed around by his partner.
Example: People joked that he was completely henpecked by his wife.
Chicken feed
Meaning: A very small or insignificant amount of money.
Example: Compared to her efforts, that prize money was chicken feed.
Roosting chickens
Meaning: Problems or bad deeds returning to cause trouble.
Example: His lies eventually came home to roost like chickens.
Scratch around
Meaning: To search for something with difficulty.
Example: They had to scratch around for old notes before the exam.
Egg and chicken problem
Meaning: A situation where it’s hard to know which came first.
Example: The question of talent or practice in success is a chicken-and-egg problem.
Rare bird
Meaning: Someone unusual or unique.
Example: He’s a rare bird—always cheerful no matter what.