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.
- dollar
- dollar area
- dollarbird
- dollar diplomacy
- dollar gap
- dollarisation
- dollarization
- dollar mark
- dollar sign
- dollars to doughnuts
- Dollfuss, Engelbert
- dollhouse
- dollop
- doll's house
- Doll, Sir Richard
- dolly
- dolly bird
- dolly mixtures
- dolly switch
- dolly tub
- Dolly Varden
- Dolly Varden hat
- dolma
- dolman
- dolman sleeve