{"id":7401,"date":"2022-08-13T18:02:58","date_gmt":"2022-08-13T18:02:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=7401"},"modified":"2022-08-13T18:02:58","modified_gmt":"2022-08-13T18:02:58","slug":"pansy-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/pansy-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Pansy \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking at a man that can\u2019t bring himself to take a risk? You could call him a \u2018pansy<\/em>\u2019 to describe his cowardice.<\/p>\n

This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression \u2018pansy\u2019<\/em> means someone that displays cowardice or a lack of will in a stressful situation or when challenged by others. If you\u2019re a pansy<\/em>, you lack conviction and shy away from challenges or demanding situations that require you to take a risk.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\"Oh c'mon, Mike, don't be such a pansy. It's not like you're going to die or anything. Bungee jumping is perfectly safe.\"<\/p>\n

\"Let's stop with the pansy talk, okay? Everyone needs to get their heads together so we can find our way out of this mess. Now is not the time for cowardice.\"<\/p>\n

\"I can't believe you're acting like such a pansy. What do you mean you won't get in the ocean because you're afraid of a shark attack. You have a better chance of dying in a car wreck on the way home.\"<\/p>\n

\"Stop being a pansy. I would never have invited you to this function if I had known you were this much of a wuss.\"<\/p>\n

\"This job isn't for pansies. It requires someone with a strong will and the intestinal fortitude to handle the stress and demands of the job.\"<\/p>\n

\"My brother's kid is such a pansy. They never bothered to let him figure out things on his own, and now he's just a mommy's boy that relies on her for everything; it's pathetic.\"<\/p>\n

\"Stop being such a pansy and pick up the tool; it's not going to bite you. If you want to fix your car, you'll need to learn how to use it.\"<\/p>\n

\"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression \u2018pansy\u2019 originates from the French word \u2018pens\u00e9e.\u2019 Pens\u00e9e in French is the past participle of \u2018to think,\u2019 but is also a feminine reflexive. The term first appeared in the 15th century,\u00a0 with the original meaning being a man who overthinks a situation, failing to take action because of fear.<\/p>\n

The original phrase meant a man who thinks like a woman or doesn\u2019t like to take risks in life. In the 15th century, blue-collar workers and slaves had stocky, muscular builds due to their work. However, thinking men, such as academics, was thin and scrawny with no muscle tone due to a lack of activity.<\/p>\n

As a result, working-class men labeled these individuals \u2018pansies\u2019 as they were not considered \u2018men\u2019 by the working class. In 1929, the term \u2018pansy\u2019 changed to a man exhibiting effeminate or homosexual behavior.<\/p>\n

However, the modern use of the phrase refers to someone unwilling to take a risk due to being paralyzed by fear.<\/p>\n