faint-hearted

/ˌfeɪnt ˈhɑːtɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌfeɪnt ˈhɑːrtɪd/ (ame, ipa)

faint-hearted — adjective

1. Someone who is faint-hearted lacks the confidence or courage needed to face diff

1.形容詞B2
釋義

Someone who is faint-hearted lacks the confidence or courage needed to face difficult, dangerous, or uncertain situations, and becomes discouraged very easily.

例句

The narrow mountain road with sharp turns is not for the faint-hearted.

fixed expression: 'not for the faint-hearted' — used to warn that something is extreme or dangerous

Oliver was too faint-hearted to protest when the waiter overcharged him for the meal.

pattern: 'too faint-hearted to + infinitive'

同義詞
  • timid

    more general — describes a personality trait of being shy or easily frightened, not just in difficult situations

  • cowardly

    stronger and more negative — suggests blameworthy lack of courage, whereas 'faint-hearted' is milder and often sympathetic

  • meek

    focuses on being quiet and submissive, not necessarily afraid

反義詞
  • brave

    willing to face danger or pain without fear

  • bold

    confident and willing to take risks

文法句型

be faint-hearted

too faint-hearted to + infinitive

not for the faint-hearted

用法筆記

Common in the fixed expression 'not for the faint-hearted', which describes an activity, place, or experience that is too extreme, intense, or demanding for timid people. As an attributive adjective, it often appears before nouns like 'attempt', 'smile', 'knock', or 'effort' to suggest half-heartedness caused by fear.

常見錯誤

❌He was too faint-hearted for speaking up at the meeting.
✅He was too faint-hearted to speak up at the meeting.
💡The correct structure is 'too faint-hearted to + verb', not 'for + gerund'.