мокрая курица

• (КАК) МОКРАЯ КУРИЦА coll, rather derog

[NP; sing only; often subj-compl with copula (subj: human); fixed WO]

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1. a person who looks pitiful, downtrodden, depressed:

- (be) a sorry sight;

- (look) like something the cat dragged in;

- (look) miserable.

     ♦ [Анна Петровна:] Прошлогодняя история... В прошлом году соблазнил и до самой осени ходил мокрой курицей, так и теперь... Дон-Жуан и жалкий трус в одном теле (Чехов 1). I А.Р:] Last year's business all over again. Last year you seduced some girl and the whole summer you went about looking miserable The same thing's happening now Don Juan and a pitiful coward rolled into one (1a).

     ♦ "Крепкоголовые" хихикали и надрывали животики, видя, как крикливый господин... превращался из гордого петуха в мокрую курицу (Салтыков-Щедрин 2). [context transl] The "die-hards" first sniggered and then nearly burst their sides laughing as they watched the clamourous gentleman...transform himself from a proud cock into a wet hen (2a).

2. a person lacking decisiveness, willpower, a person likely to be dominated by another:

- wimp;

- milksop;

- jellyfish;

- pushover.