coward

Related to coward: Noel Coward

a bully is always a coward

proverb A bully will only mistreat others perceived to be weaker. Of course he always picks on kids who are smaller than him. A bully is always a coward.
See also: always, bully, coward

conscience does make cowards of us all

proverb The conscience often prevents one from doing things that one wants to do (perhaps things that wrong or inappropriate). The phrase comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet. I really want to insult him back, but I just can't. Ugh, conscience does make cowards of us all.
See also: all, conscience, coward, does, make, of

cowards die many times before their death(s)

proverb People who constantly fear death feel the stress associated with it many times before actually dying. This phrase comes from Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar. It's really true that cowards die many times before their death—what would be a simple task for someone else causes me great anxiety.
See also: before, coward, die, many, times

take the coward's way out

euphemism To kill oneself; to commit suicide. His father was millions of dollars in debt, but rather than face up to his obligations, he just took the coward's way out. No matter how things get, I will never take the coward's way out.
See also: out, take, way
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bully is always a coward

Prov. Bullies will only intimidate people who are much weaker than they are, because they are afraid of losing a fight. Child: Dad, Joey keeps picking on me. How can I make him stop? Father: Try fighting back. A bully is always a coward. Bill took advantage of the younger children, but he was quiet and docile around the older ones. A bully is always a coward.
See also: always, bully, coward

Conscience does make cowards of us all.

Prov. People sometimes fear to do what they want or what they believe is necessary because they think it is wrong. (From Shakespeare's play, Hamlet.) Alan: I really want to go to the ball game with you guys this afternoon, but it just doesn't seem right to skip work to do it. Fred: Conscience does make cowards of us all, right, Alan?
See also: all, conscience, coward, does, make, of

Cowards die many times before their death(s).

Prov. Cowards are often afraid that they are going to die, so that they often feel what it is like to die, while brave people only feel the fear of death when they are really about to die. (From Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar.) Every time Nina went out alone, she was always afraid. Cowards die many times before their deaths.
See also: before, Coward, death, die, many, times

take the coward's way out

Euph. to kill oneself. When faced with financial disaster, Sarah took the coward's way out. I can't believe that Bill would take the coward's way out. His death must have been an accident.
See also: out, take, way
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • a bully is always a coward
  • bully
  • bully is always a coward
  • first step is always the hardest
  • the first step is always the hardest
  • a bad penny always turns up
  • bad penny always turns up
  • never a dull moment
  • as always
  • it was ever so
References in periodicals archive
The body of Jonathan Coward was found near a footpath on Monday night in Stratford-upon-Avon.
In a statement to police Mrs Coward said: "I feel that I cannot walk down my own street and I'm scared to come home from work.
Rehearsals are well under way for the venue's last play of the season, Noel Coward's The Vortex, which can be seen on Saturday, June 30 and from Monday, July 2 to Saturday, July 7 at 7.30pm, directed by well knownChesterauthor, K C Finn.
Andrews initiated his double on Coward's inconsistent mare Aine's Choice, who came into the Restricted Race with form figures of PPP1P but proceeded to make virtually every yard of the running before cruising home eight lengths ahead of Monsun Storm.
Whatever one may think of his politics, Powell was no coward. K Carton, Kings Norton
Being a smart collaborator and not a coward requires you every once in a while to say "I don't know".
You call them cowards. You try telling me I'm a coward,' Calida said.
Purchased by Ian Coward in 2014 after following the boat's early triumphs.
But getting his audience to believe that he is the frivolous, slightly immoral, totally-self centred, matinee idol Gary Essendine in this latest production of Coward's Present Laughter (directed in a slightly less than sizzling way by Stephen Unwin) is something else altogether.
Critique: A finely crafted and impressively original novel, "The Coward: Conscience On Trial" showcases the truly extraordinary storytelling talents of author Tom Wall.
While there has been no indication that Coward has a new position to go to, his departure was reported to be amicable.
Though it certainly seems plausible that cow and coward would have a common ancestor, in fact they come from different sources.
Ace cricket writer Mike Coward believes cricket, as we have known it traditionally, is on the verge of extinction.
Robert Coward has been named a senior supervising engineer in the Lawrenceville, New Jersey office of Parsons Brinckerhoff.
Trinity Liliana Coward was found with serious injuries at her house in Theobald Road, Norwich, at about 5pm on Sunday.