In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which best expresses the meaning of the idiom or phrase “Chicken-hearted”.

Introduction / Context:
This question tests your understanding of English idioms. The idiom chicken-hearted uses an animal image to describe a human character trait. To answer correctly, you must recognise that this expression has a fixed figurative meaning and choose the option that captures that meaning most accurately, rather than taking it literally.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Idiom: Chicken-hearted. - Options: Coward, Short tempered, Composed, Bold. - The idiom is used as an adjective describing a person.

Concept / Approach:
In English, chickens are stereotypically associated with timidity or fearfulness. Phrases like do not be a chicken are common ways of telling someone not to be scared. Therefore, chicken-hearted is a vivid way of saying that someone has a heart full of fear, that is, the person is extremely timid or lacking in courage. The synonym that best expresses this sense is coward, which refers to a person who lacks bravery and is easily frightened.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that chicken in informal English often symbolises cowardice or fear. Step 2: Understand that hearted in such idioms refers to the nature of the person's heart, for example lion-hearted for very brave and kind-hearted for very kind. Step 3: Combine the two ideas: a chicken-hearted person is someone whose heart is like that of a scared chicken, meaning very timid and afraid. Step 4: Examine the options. Coward is a noun that directly names a person who lacks courage. Step 5: Short tempered, Composed and Bold describe emotional control and bravery in different ways but do not match the idea of being extremely timid and fearful.

Verification / Alternative check:
Use the idiom in a sentence: He was too chicken-hearted to stand up to the bully. Rewriting this sentence with the word coward or cowardly gives He was too cowardly to stand up to the bully, which has the same essential meaning. Replacing chicken-hearted with bold reverses the meaning and replacing it with short tempered or composed changes it to completely different personality traits. This confirms that coward is the correct equivalent.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Short tempered is wrong because it refers to someone who gets angry very quickly, not someone who is especially fearful. Composed is wrong because it means calm and self controlled, which does not indicate fear or lack of courage. Bold is wrong because it means brave and confident, which is almost the opposite of being chicken-hearted.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may mistakenly think that chicken-hearted could relate to nervous energy or quick temper, but idioms often have conventional meanings that cannot be deduced from the individual words alone. A good way to remember such idioms is to group them: lion-hearted for very brave, chicken-hearted for very cowardly, and faint-hearted for lacking courage. Recalling these pairs will help you quickly identify the correct meaning in exam questions.

Final Answer:
The idiom “Chicken-hearted” means a Coward, that is, a person who lacks courage.