“white feather”是英语中极具文化象征酷好的贬义名词短语，词源与19世纪英国斗鸡文化径直关系——斗鸡比赛中，尾羽为白色的公鸡常常战斗力较弱、斗志不及，常被视为“怯懦”的象征。19世纪末布尔搏斗时辰，英国妇女会向逃匿兵役的男性递上一根白羽毛，以此欺凌其“ cowardice（恇怯）”，这一转为让“white feather”的象征义澈底固化。其中枢语义遥远是“恇怯、虚弱的象征”，词性为名词短语，情愫颜色赫然贬义，一般不指具体的“白色羽毛”什物，而是详细指代东谈主在面对挑战、压力或危境时阐扬出的“空乏勇气、惊骇不前”，可朽木不雕、表语等，常用搭配为“show a white feather阐扬出怯懦”、“have a white feather内心虚弱”、“display a white feather表露怯懦”。如：

Your stutter is not a sign of a white feather—it’s just a hurdle, and you can overcome it.

你的口吃并非怯懦的象征——它仅仅一个隔断，你皆备不错克服它。《国王的演讲》

The politician was criticized for showing a white feather on the controversial policy, refusing to stand up for his own views.

这位政客因在有争议的计策上阐扬怯懦、不敢坚抓我方的不雅点而受到品评。

Pull yourself together; do you want to show the white feather in front of these people?

直率起来！难谈你宁愿在这些东谈主眼前示弱吗？

She broke up with him because he always showed a white feather when they faced any relationship problems, never daring to confront them.

她和他离异了，因为每当他们濒临感情问题时，他老是阐扬得很恇怯，从不敢去面对。

He lost her love forever when he displayed a white feather and ran away during the robbery that targeted her.

在那次针对她的劫掠事件中，他因虚弱逃遁，从此永远失去了她的爱。

Her fiancé’s white feather in the face of her family’s opposition made her realize he wasn’t the man she thought he was.

她独身夫在面对她家东谈主反对时的怯懦，让她意志到他并非我方思象中的阿谁东谈主。

The soldier was ashamed to admit he had felt a white feather when the enemy launched their first attack.

这名士兵羞于承认，在敌东谈主发起第一次遑急时，他曾感到一阵虚弱。

The teacher told the student not to have a white feather—she needed to be brave and present her project in front of the whole class.

憨厚告诉这个学生不要虚弱，她需要勇敢地在全班眼前展示我方的口头。

The investor showed a white feather when the market crashed, selling all his stocks in a panic instead of staying calm.

商场崩盘时，这位投资者阐扬得很怯懦，暴燥地卖掉了整个股票，而非保抓清静。

His best friend accused him of having a white feather for not defending him when he was being bullied.

他最佳的一又友数落他怯懦——在我方被欺侮时莫得挺身而出保护他。

A man does not show a white feather when his freedom is at stake—fight, or you’ll regret it forever!

当目田岌岌可危时，着实的男东谈主不会阐扬出怯懦——战斗吧，不然你会后悔终身！《勇敢的心》

Don’t let the fear of Sirius make you show a white feather—you’ve faced darker things than him.

别让对小天狼星的恐惧让你变得怯懦——你一经面对过比他更阴雨的东西了。《哈利·波特与阿兹卡班的囚徒》

When his teammates encouraged him to join the debate competition, Tom showed a white feather and refused, saying he was too scared to speak in public.

当队友饱读动汤姆投入辩白比赛时，他阐扬出怯懦并拒却了，说我方太发怵在公众眼前谈话。（2022年世界卷I高考）