coward
gb/kˈaʊɚd/ us/kˈaʊɚd/
B2
Anh
Các nghĩa
0 nghĩa
Danh từ
B2
role
1
person who lacks courage
A person who is not brave.
Mẫu sử dụng:
call [someone] a coward
Lỗi thường gặp:
Use the noun coward for a person; use cowardly for the adjective (not *a coward person*).
Từ đồng nghĩa
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.)
Từ trái nghĩa
brave person (Shows courage in danger or difficulty.)
|
hero (Not only brave, but admired for courageous actions.)
Cụm từ đi kèm
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
Chủ đề
emotions
|people
|conflict
Ví dụ
- 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.
Ví dụ cho người học
- Don’t call him a coward.
- A coward is afraid to face danger.
Danh từ
C1
role
2
person who avoids hard choices
A person who does not do the right thing because they are afraid.
Mẫu sử dụng:
be a coward about [something]
Lỗi thường gặp:
This meaning is not only about physical danger; it can be about fear of consequences or criticism.
Từ đồng nghĩa
weakling (More about lack of strength or character in general.)
|
pushover (Emphasizes being easily controlled rather than being afraid.)
Từ trái nghĩa
person of principle (Acts according to values despite pressure or risk.)
|
truth-teller (Speaks honestly even when it is difficult.)
Cụm từ đi kèm
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
Chủ đề
emotions
|ethics
|relationships
|work
Ví dụ
- 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.
Ví dụ cho người học
- Don’t be a coward about it.
- He was too much of a coward to tell the truth.
Danh từ
informal
B2
abstract
3
insult meaning not brave
An insult for someone who is not brave.
Mẫu sử dụng:
You coward!
Lỗi thường gặp:
In direct address, it usually sounds harsh or aggressive; it’s not appropriate in polite conversation.
Từ đồng nghĩa
wimp (Often less severe and more casual than coward.)
|
loser (A broader insult; not specifically about fear.)
Từ trái nghĩa
champion (Used approvingly for someone admirable or brave.)
Cụm từ đi kèm
you coward
|you little coward
|coward!
|stop being a coward
|don’t be a coward
Chủ đề
emotions
|conflict
|communication
Ví dụ
- “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.
Ví dụ cho người học
- He yelled, “Coward!”
adjective
literary
C2
property
4
cowardly (rare adjective use)
Not brave (rare use; usually say cowardly).
Mẫu sử dụng:
[a] coward attack
Lỗi thường gặp:
In modern English, use cowardly as the adjective in most situations.
Từ đồng nghĩa
cowardly (The standard modern adjective form.)
Từ trái nghĩa
brave (Shows courage.)
Cụm từ đi kèm
coward act
|coward fear
|coward heart
Chủ đề
emotions
|literature
Ví dụ
- 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.
Ngữ pháp
Cách diễn đạt
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.
Ví dụ
- 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.
Ví dụ
- 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.
Ví dụ
- 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.
Ví dụ
- 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.
Ví dụ
- 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.