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What is "weak-kneed"

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
weak-kneed
adjective
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
▪ a weak-kneed coward
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ Criticisms of solipsism should therefore count as criticisms of the weak-kneed scepticism embodied in foundationalism.
▪ For many years Jack Benny had a comic character on his programs named Mr Shlepperman-a timid, weak-kneed character.
▪ He stood there like a weak-kneed schoolboy who'd impulsively confessed to stealing the headmaster's wallet.
▪ The other two, a couple of weak-kneed cowards, had thought that was enough and run off.
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Weak-kneed

Weak-kneed \Weak"-kneed`\, a. Having weak knees; hence, easily yielding; wanting resolution.
--H. James.

Wiktionary
weak-kneed

a. 1 (context figuratively English) Lacking will power or strength of character; timid. 2 (context literally English) (&lit week kneed English) alt. 1 (context figuratively English) Lacking will power or strength of character; timid. 2 (context literally English) (&lit week kneed English)

WordNet
weak-kneed

adj. lacking will power or resolution; "the role of the dissenter is not for the weak-kneed"

Usage examples of "weak-kneed".

Temple and the Holy of Holies, he found himself quaking, as weak-kneed as the most superstitious peasant as he paused for a moment before the great screen of silver latticework that concealed the Sanctorium of the Eye.

That might have been the case with the last king, known to be as lionhearted as he was called, but with his weak-kneed baby brother?

There's plenty of hill-grubbing savages that carve up their own faces to frighten weak-kneed recruits like you, Gullstream.

Beauty Smith was known far and wide as the weakest of weak-kneed and snivelling cowards.

Though, speaking without prejudice and with no wish to be offensive, if I had had a model who wasn't a weak-kneed, jelly-backboned son of Belial, I could have got the darned thing finished without having to have another sitting.

She stood on her tiptoes and brushed her mouth across his in a kiss that was so achingly sweet that he thought for one paralyzingly weak-kneed moment he just might faint.