Walter Mitty
noun, plural Walter Mittys.
an ordinary, timid person who is given to adventurous and self-aggrandizing daydreams or secret plans as a way of glamorizing a humdrum life.
Origin of Walter Mitty
from the title character of James Thurber's short story “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” (1939)
OTHER WORDS FROM Walter Mitty
Walter Mittyish, adjectiveIdioms and Phrases with walter mitty
Walter Mitty
A person, generally quite ordinary or ineffectual, who indulges in fantastic daydreams of personal triumphs. For example, He's a Walter Mitty about riding in a rodeo but is actually afraid of horses. This term comes from James Thurber's short story, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1939), describing just such a character.