coward
gb/kˈaʊɚd/ us/kˈaʊɚd/
B2
英語
語義
0件の語義
名詞
B2
role
1
person who lacks courage
A person who is not brave.
用法パターン：
call [someone] a coward
よくある間違い：
Use the noun coward for a person; use cowardly for the adjective (not *a coward person*).
類義語
wimp (More informal; often suggests weakness rather than fear.)
|
chicken (Informal; commonly used about being afraid to do something.)
|
craven (More formal/literary; emphasizes contemptible fear.)
対義語
brave person (Shows courage in danger or difficulty.)
|
hero (Not only brave, but admired for courageous actions.)
コロケーション
complete coward
|total coward
|absolute coward
|a cowardly act
|brand [someone] a coward
|call [someone] a coward
|accuse [someone] of being a coward
|act like a coward
|prove to be a coward
|a bunch of cowards
テーマ
emotions
|people
|conflict
例文
- He wasn’t a coward, but he was terrified of heights.
- The captain refused to abandon the crew, calling anyone who fled a coward.
- She thought it was cowardly to blame someone else for your mistake.
学習者向け例文
- Don’t call him a coward.
- A coward is afraid to face danger.
名詞
C1
role
2
person who avoids hard choices
A person who does not do the right thing because they are afraid.
用法パターン：
be a coward about [something]
よくある間違い：
This meaning is not only about physical danger; it can be about fear of consequences or criticism.
類義語
weakling (More about lack of strength or character in general.)
|
pushover (Emphasizes being easily controlled rather than being afraid.)
対義語
person of principle (Acts according to values despite pressure or risk.)
|
truth-teller (Speaks honestly even when it is difficult.)
コロケーション
moral coward
|political coward
|a cowardly refusal
|cowardly silence
|a cowardly compromise
|cowardly excuse
|too much of a coward to [do something]
|a coward about confrontation
テーマ
emotions
|ethics
|relationships
|work
例文
- He was too much of a coward to admit he was wrong.
- She called the manager a coward for refusing to stand up to the bullying.
- Walking away without apologizing felt like the coward’s option.
学習者向け例文
- Don’t be a coward about it.
- He was too much of a coward to tell the truth.
名詞
informal
B2
abstract
3
insult meaning not brave
An insult for someone who is not brave.
用法パターン：
You coward!
よくある間違い：
In direct address, it usually sounds harsh or aggressive; it’s not appropriate in polite conversation.
類義語
wimp (Often less severe and more casual than coward.)
|
loser (A broader insult; not specifically about fear.)
対義語
champion (Used approvingly for someone admirable or brave.)
コロケーション
you coward
|you little coward
|coward!
|stop being a coward
|don’t be a coward
テーマ
emotions
|conflict
|communication
例文
- “Come back and fight!” she shouted. “Coward!”
- He slammed the door, muttering, “Cowards, the lot of them.”
- Don’t call your friends cowards just because they disagree with you.
学習者向け例文
- He yelled, “Coward!”
adjective
literary
C2
property
4
cowardly (rare adjective use)
Not brave (rare use; usually say cowardly).
用法パターン：
[a] coward attack
よくある間違い：
In modern English, use cowardly as the adjective in most situations.
類義語
cowardly (The standard modern adjective form.)
対義語
brave (Shows courage.)
コロケーション
coward act
|coward fear
|coward heart
テーマ
emotions
|literature
例文
- The novel describes the ruler as a coward man who hides behind others.
- In older writing, you may see coward used where modern English would use cowardly.
文法
表現
a coward dies a thousand deaths
1/ə kˈaʊɚd dˈaɪz ə θˈaʊzənd dˈɛθs/
idiom
literary
fear causes repeated suffering
Being afraid all the time makes you suffer again and again.
例文
- He kept imagining the worst outcomes—like the saying goes, a coward dies a thousand deaths.
- She repeated the proverb, arguing that fear can be more painful than the event itself.
coward at heart
1/kˈaʊɚd ˈæt hˈɑɹt/
fixed phrase
secretly not brave inside
Not brave inside, even if you look brave.
例文
- He acts tough online, but he’s a coward at heart.
- They said the bully was a coward at heart.
coward punch
1/kˈaʊɚd pˈʌnt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
informal
sudden punch without warning
A surprise punch when the other person isn’t ready.
例文
- The court heard that the victim was hit with a coward punch from behind.
- Security footage showed a man throwing a coward punch outside the bar.
coward's way out
1/kˈaʊɚdz wˈeɪ ˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
easy but shameful escape
A way to escape a problem that people think is shameful.
例文
- Walking away without an explanation felt like the coward’s way out.
- He said quitting before the deadline would be the coward’s way out.
- Some people use the phrase to criticize suicide, which can be hurtful.
he's no coward. / she's no coward.
1/hˈiz nˈoʊ kˈaʊɚd ‖ ʃˈiz nˈoʊ kˈaʊɚd ‖/
fixed phrase
said to mean very brave
This person is brave.
例文
- She’s no coward—she’ll tell them exactly what she thinks.
- He’s no coward, but he also knows when to back off.
- Don’t worry about him; he’s no coward.