Lily-livered

Lily-livered is an adjective used to describe someone who is cowardly, timid, or easily frightened. It implies a lack of courage and resolve in the face of danger or adversity. The term alludes to the supposed paleness (like a lily) of the liver in a cowardly person. It suggests a deficiency of bile, humorally linked with courage and strength. The expression typically carries a negative connotation, portraying the individual as weak-willed and easily intimidated.

Lily-livered meaning with examples

• Don't be so lily-livered; the rollercoaster isn't nearly as scary as it looks, and you'll probably have a great time!
• He refused to speak out against the injustice, proving himself to be a Lily-livered politician afraid of losing popularity with his voters.
• Despite the taunts, he stood his ground, showing that he was not as Lily-livered as his opponents had assumed throughout the debate.
• Facing the fierce dog, the Lily-livered mailman cautiously approached the house to deliver the important package from Washington.
• The company's Lily-livered approach to cybersecurity made them vulnerable to a cyber attack which compromised personal user data.