faint of heart

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   Describes people who are easily scared or who lack the nerve to face something difficult.

   Grammar: Usually follows the: not for the faint of heart.

   Patterns

   • not for the faint of heart
   • the faint of heart

   This hike is not for the faint of heart.

   The horror film is too gory for the faint of heart.

   Starting a business is not for the faint of heart.

2. 2adjectiveafter a verbliteraryold-fashioned

   Timid or lacking courage.

   Grammar: Used as a descriptive adjective phrase: he was faint of heart.

   Patterns

   • be faint of heart

   The faint of heart turned back.

   Only the brave, not the faint of heart, survived.

   She was never faint of heart.

Common combinations

not for the faint of heart

This ride is not for the faint of heart.

warning for the faint of heart

A warning to the faint of heart: it gets scary.

too much for the faint of heart

The cliff path is too much for the faint of heart.

faint of heart and weak of will

The task needs more than the faint of heart.

Synonyms and how they differ

timid

Timid describes a shy, nervous personality in general.

fainthearted

Fainthearted is the one-word adjective with the same meaning.

squeamish

Squeamish is about being upset by gore or unpleasant sights.

cowardly

Cowardly is harsher and critical.

Opposites

Word family

fainthearted adjective

lacking courage

faint adjective

slight or weak

Commonly confused: faint of heart or faint?

Practice

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