The phrase “playing chicken” refers to a dangerous game of daring where opponents drive straight toward each other waiting for the other to swerve or “chicken out” first. This high-stakes competition has origins in youth car culture and game theory though the concept appears in other forms as well.
Origins and Early Usage
One of the earliest uses of “chicken” to describe a daring face-off appears in the 1953 Brando classic Rebel Without a Cause. In a key scene, rival boys speed stolen cars toward a cliff, waiting to see who jumps out first. The aggressor who keeps driving even in the face of mortal peril “wins” by showing their courage. Whoever hits the brakes or leaves their car “loses.”
As teenagers embraced hot-rodding culture in the 1950s and 60s, this notion of chicken became synonymous with perilous games of nerve on the road. Drivers would race toward parked trains or other obstacles, seeing who eased off the accelerator first. Hollywood reinforced the concept in films like Footloose (1984), depicting chicken as a test of manhood among restless youth.
Modern Meanings and Examples
Though less common today, chicken retains its original sense in phrases like “game of chicken.” More broadly, it describes any confrontation where opponents drive toward disaster, stubbornly refusing to back down. Each side hopes to force the other to concede first, even if the resulting crash harms everyone.
This defiance of reason gave rise to the phrase “nuclear chicken” for brinksmanship policies during the Cold War. Each superpower barreled toward potential World War III, relying on mutual fear to force the enemy to stand down. Similarly, politicians play chicken by pushing dangerous policies, daring the opposition to take the blame for catastrophe if no agreement is reached.
Beyond machismo and war, chicken also appears in economics and biology. The “hawk-dove game” models conflict over resources, where players choose either conciliation or escalation. Darwinian “chicken” contests, like stags locking horns, determine superiority and access to mates. In business, “chicken pricing” sees retailers dangerously slash profit margins, hoping rivals will raise prices first.
At its core playing chicken requires willingness to court real disaster and belief your opponent will ultimately flinch first. It is a dangerous gamble of ego will, fearlessness, and the perception of irrationality. Backing down may be the wise choice, but in chicken the victor is determined by who plays it coolest in the face of mutually-assured destruction. So next time someone accuses you of a “game of chicken,” know they likely mean your stubbornness could send you careening off a cliff!
Understanding the Payoffs in the Chicken Game
In any game theory model, understanding the payoffs for different scenarios is crucial. In the Chicken Game, the outcomes can be represented in a payoff table, as shown below:
In this table:
| Player 2 Swerves | Player 2 Continues | |
| Player 1 Swerves | (2, 2) | (1, 3) |
| Player 1 Continues | (3, 1) | (0, 0) |
- (2, 2) occurs when both players swerve, leading to a minor payoff.
- (1, 3) or (3, 1) are scenarios where one player swerves and the other continues, yielding a larger payoff to the player that continued.
- (0, 0) happens when neither player swerves, leading to the worst possible outcome, often referred to as a crash.
Chicken Game and Microeconomic Game Types
In microeconomics, the Chicken Game exemplifies a non-cooperative game, influencing strategic decision-makers across various sectors. It contrasts with cooperative games, where binding agreements dictate cooperation between players. The real-world applicability of Chicken Game appears in contexts where players face decisions like retaliation, negotiation, or steadfastness under threat.Microeconomic game types integrating the Chicken Game demonstrate why competitors might push costs onto consumers, how negotiations can break down without a conciliatory move, or thus escalate disagreements. Players striving for higher payoffs must assess whether avoiding the zero-payoff collision scenario can be achieved through strategy balance.
Studying diverse game types like Prisoners Dilemma alongside the Chicken Game helps reveal various strategic intersections in economic modeling.
Playing Chicken: Understanding the Phrase in English
FAQ
What does it mean to play chicken in slang?
Definition of ‘play chicken’
1. to engage in a test of courage in which, typically, two vehicles are driven directly toward one another in order to see which driver will swerve away first. 2. Slang. to engage in mutual challenges or threats, hoping the opponent will withdraw before actual conflict or collision.
Where does the term “playing chicken” come from?
The name “chicken” has its origins in a game in which two drivers drive toward each other on a collision course: one must swerve, or both may die in the crash, but if one driver swerves and the other does not, the one who swerved will be called a “chicken”, meaning a coward; this terminology is most prevalent in …
What does “chicken” mean in slang?
What does play chicken mean?
比试胆量… Need a translator? Get a quick, free translation! PLAY CHICKEN definition: 1. to play dangerous games in order to discover who is the bravest 2. to play dangerous games in…. Learn more.
What is an example of playing chicken?
For example: – Two politicians might play chicken over a controversial issue by refusing to compromise. – A company might play chicken with its competitors by undercutting prices too much. – Friends might play chicken by daring each other to do something dangerous or embarrassing.
Where did the term ‘play chicken’ come from?
The origins of the idiom “play chicken” can be traced back to the early 20th century in the United States. The term “chicken” has long been used as slang for someone lacking courage or acting cowardly. In the 1950s, the phrase “play chicken” emerged and became associated with reckless teenage behavior.
Is “play chicken” a bad idiom?
This is especially true for the idiom “play chicken”. One mistake to avoid is using the idiom too casually or flippantly. “Playing chicken” refers to a dangerous game where two people drive towards each other at high speeds and whoever swerves first loses. It is not something to be taken lightly or joked about.
How do you use the idiom “play chicken”?
Use the idiom “play chicken” in your dialogue and try to make it sound natural. Another way to improve your understanding of idioms is through writing exercises. In this exercise, write a short story or paragraph using the idiom “play chicken”. Be creative with your story but make sure you use the idiom correctly and in context.
How do friends play chicken?
Friends might play chicken by daring each other to do something dangerous or embarrassing. The phrase “play chicken” has been used in English language for many years, but its origins are not entirely clear. However, it is believed to have originated in the United States during the 1950s or 1960s.