When you see someone you barely know but bump into regularly (neighbor, colleague from another department, milkman etc.) walking towards you on the street and you both stare at each other while approaching, and you have to decide when to say 'hello' to avoid looking either awkward (shouting it from too far away) or rude (saying it too late or not saying at all). The aim is that you still have to greet them first.
Just like when two cars play chicken.
- Oh man, there's the delivery guy again. Every time I take out the trash he's there, I'm tired of playing 'hello' chicken with him.
- Mike told me a hot girl moved in to the flatsh last month.
- Nice, did he ask her out already?
- Nah he's way too shy for that, I guess he just insists on playing 'hello' chicken when he bumps into her.