Search
Select the dictionary language
to wimp out
01
to behave in a timid or cowardly way, especially by backing out of something
Dialect
American
American
Informal
Grammatical Information
Composition
phrasal
Action verb
Regular
Inseparable
Particle
out
Base verb
wimp
Present tense
wimp out
3rd person singular
wimps out
Present participle
wimping out
Past simple
wimped out
Past participle
wimped out
What is the origin of the term "wimp out" and how is it used?
"Wimp out" is an English informal phrasal verb that appeared in the mid-20th century, likely in American slang around the 1940s–1950s. It combines "wimp," meaning a weak or timid person, with "out" to describe the act of withdrawing, backing out, or failing to act due to fear or cowardice. The phrase is used when someone behaves timidly or avoids a challenge, often in informal, teasing, or critical contexts. It is mildly derogatory but not vulgar, aimed at criticizing someone's lack of courage rather than insulting them harshly.
Examples
Do n't wimp out now – you've trained for months.
