Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

play chicken

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.59 in modern English

Syllables: play chick-en
IPA

27

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

As a risky test of courage, to drive two vehicles directly toward one another in order to see which driver will swerve away first.

verb

To engage in a mutual challenge or threat, expecting the opponent to withdraw before an actual conflict or collision.

Informal; Slang

Usage

Inflected Forms

plays chicken (present, singular) playing chicken (participle, present) played chicken (participle, past) played chicken (past)

Questions

What does play chicken mean?: As a risky test of courage, to drive two vehicles directly toward one another in order to see which driver will swerve away first.

How to pronounce play chicken

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “play chicken”.
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