What it means
A scaredy-cat is someone who's easily frightened and backs out of anything remotely scary, the one who won't go on the rollercoaster, watch the horror film or check what made that noise downstairs. It's a gently teasing word, the kind kids fling at each other in the playground, more affectionate ribbing than real insult.
Usage examples
"Don't be such a scaredy-cat, the haunted house is for little kids."
"I'm a total scaredy-cat with horror films, I watch the whole thing through my fingers."
"He talks big till it’s time to go in the basement, then he turns proper scaredy-cat."
"I’m not doing that bungee jump, mate. Call me a scaredy-cat if you want."
Where it comes from
This one’s been around in English since the early 1900s. It’s a teasing mash-up of scared and cat, built on the old idea that cats are jumpy, skittish little creatures that spring a mile at the tiniest weird noise. It stuck hard in playground talk and still sounds more mocky than truly nasty.
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