Master English one word at a time. World of Words provides a daily English word with its precise meaning, pronunciation, and practical usage examples to help you build a powerful vocabulary.
Lily-livered describes someone who is cowardly or easily intimidated. The phrase comes from an old belief that the liver was the seat of courage, with a pale or "lily-white" liver suggesting it was lacking. A lily-livered person might talk a big game, but they tend to shrink away when the pressure is on.
Example: My lily-livered brother refused to watch the scary movie, so we picked a comedy instead.
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