Differences between chicken out and go out
Chicken out means to decide not to do something because you are afraid or nervous, while go out means to leave your home and spend time outside, usually with friends or family.
Meanings and Definitions: chicken out vs go out
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
Chicken out
- 1Be too afraid to do something.
I CHICKENED OUT of the bungee jumping when I saw how high it was.
Go out
- 1Stop burning, be extinguished.
The candle WENT OUT and left us in darkness.
- 2Leave a place.
He WENT OUT last night.
- 3Go on strike.
The workers WENT OUT for more money.
- 4Become infashionable.
That sort of the WENT OUT last year.
- 5Move backwards, of a tide.
The tide GOES OUT in the evening.
- 6Be eliminated in a competition.
England WENT OUT in the second round.
- 7Be transmitted.
The item WENT OUT on the news yesterday.
- 8Be sent.
The newsletter WENT OUT last night.
- 9Intend.
I didn't GO OUT to offend them.
Usage Examples: chicken out, go out in Sentences
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
chicken out
Example
I don't want to chicken out of the speech competition.
Example
She always chickens out when it's time to speak in public.
go out
Example
I usually go out with my friends on weekends.
Example
She goes out for a walk every morning.
Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Chicken out
lose one's nerve
To become too scared or anxious to do something that was planned or expected.
Example
She lost her nerve before the bungee jumping and decided not to go through with it.
wimp out
To avoid doing something due to fear or lack of courage.
Example
He was called a coward by his friends for wimping out of the haunted house tour.
Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Go out
hang out
To spend time with friends or family in a casual and relaxed way.
Example
They decided to hang out at the park and have a picnic on the weekend.
Explore more Phrasal Verbs
Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles
Phrasal Verbs with “go”
Phrasal Verbs with “out”
- nut out
- cut out
- cash out
- wiggle out
- bleed out
Differences in chicken out vs go out: Usage, Formality, and Tone
Frequency in Daily Use: chicken out or go out?
In daily conversation, people use go out more often than chicken out. This is because go out is a common phrasal verb used to describe social activities, while chicken out is used less frequently and in specific situations where someone backs out of doing something due to fear or anxiety.
Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of chicken out and go out
Go out and chicken out are both informal phrases used in casual conversations. They are suitable for everyday interactions with friends and family. However, chicken out may be considered slightly more informal due to its colloquial nature.
Tone and Implication: The Nuances of chicken out and go out
The tone of chicken out and go out can differ based on context. Chicken out often carries a negative or disappointed tone when someone fails to do something due to fear or anxiety, while go out typically has a positive and casual tone, especially when referring to spending time with loved ones.
