weak-kneed

English

Alternative forms

• weak in the knees

Adjective

weak-kneed (comparative more weak-kneed, superlative most weak-kneed)

1. (figurative) Lacking will power or strength of character; timid.
   • 1903, Jack London, chapter 5, in The People of the Abyss:

     It is incontrovertible that the children grow up into rotten adults, without virility or stamina, a weak-kneed, narrow-chested, listless breed, that crumples up and goes down in the brute struggle for life.

2. (literally) Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see weak,‎ kneed.

Translations

figuratively: having weak knees

• Bulgarian: малодушен (bg) (malodušen)
• Galician: pusilánime (gl) m or f, apoucado m, apoucada f, coitado (gl) m, coitada f, miñaxoia (gl) m or f

literally: having weak knees

• Bikol Central: lupog (bcl)
• Maori: turingongengonge, turipū