When someone cowers, they make themselves small and hide because they feel scared or nervous. Think about a little turtle pulling its head and legs inside its shell when it feels frightened. It’s trying to make itself safe and invisible.

Another way to think about cowering is like how a kitten might curl up and hide under a blanket when it hears a loud noise like thunder. The kitten is trying to feel protected and less afraid by making itself hard to see.

Imagine the way a leaf shakes when the wind blows hard. Sometimes, when people cower, they might shake a little because they are feeling very scared, just like the leaf.

Cowering can also be like a shadow that hides when the sun goes away. When someone is scared, they might want to disappear or hide like a shadow, so they don’t feel so frightened. It’s a way to try and feel safe until the scary thing goes away.