Idioms

yellow-bellied

This page is about the idiom yellow-bellied

Meaning

If someone is yellow-bellied, they are not brave, or they are cowardly.

For example

  • Tony's father called him yellow-bellied when he was a five-year-old boy because he didn't want to ride a horse. Tony has never forgotten it.

  • The whole country behaved like yellow-bellied cowards when they let a small group of cheats steal the national election.

Quick Quiz

The other kids called Jack a yellow-bellied snake because he

a. told the teacher who cheated

b. wouldn't say who cheated

c. didn't know who cheated
a) told the teacher who cheated b) wouldn't say who cheated c) didn't know who cheated

Learn idioms easily with
Common English Idioms PDF ebook!

Common English Idioms

Contributor: Matt Errey