headless chicken
/ˌhɛdləs ˈtʃɪk(ɪ)n/informal
noun
1In similative phrases denoting frantic, unthinking, and often futile activity, especially in running around like a headless chicken and variants.
2A person, group, etc., engaged in frantic but purposeless activity.
- rare before late 20th cent..
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in Christian Union. From headless + chicken, with allusion to the phenomenon whereby a chicken can move about for a short time after decapitation, due to reflex activity of the nervous system.
- preferentiate
- preferer
- prefericulum
- preferment
- pre-fermentation
- preferred lie
- preferred orientation
- preferred partner
- preferred provider
- preferred provider organization
- preferred share
- preferrer
- prefervid
- prefetch
- prefetto
- pre-feudal
- prefigurate
- prefiguration
- prefigurative
- prefiguratively
- prefigure
- prefigurement
- pre-final
- prefinished
- prefinishing