Wordsmith.Org


A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact  


Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ


A.Word.A.Day--Chicken Little

Pronunciation: WAV or RealAudio

Chicken Little (CHIK-en LIT-l) noun

A pessimist-cum-alarmist, one who constantly warns of impending calamities.

[After a hen in children's tale who, when hit on the head by a falling acorn, believes the sky is falling.]

"The question is, how much longer can we count on ingenuity to compensate for prodigality? The Chicken Littles of environmental alarm may yet be right. McNeill is careful to refrain from saying that an ecological crisis is upon us, but he does not mince words about the unsustainability of our course. Adding to our peril is the fact that it is nearly impossible to see what is happening until it is inconveniently late to do much about it." Chip Brown, Not Easy Being Green, The Washington Post, Aug 20, 2000

X-Bonus

A sense of duty is useful in work but offensive in personal relations. -Bertrand Russell, philosopher, mathematician, and author (1872-1970)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith