cringe before

cringe before (someone or something)

To shrink away from someone or something, usually out of fear. I cringed before my dad when he caught me sneaking in after curfew.
See also: before, cringe
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

cringe before someone or something

to cower or recoil in the presence of someone or something. Jeff cringed before the wrath of the policeman.
See also: before, cringe
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • cringe before (someone or something)
  • cringe
  • cringe away from
  • cringe away from (someone or something)
  • cringe from (someone or something)
  • recoil at the thought (of someone or something)
  • recoil
  • recoil at the sight
  • recoil at the sight (of someone or something)
  • recede from
References in periodicals archive
Some of his junior colleagues appeared not to know the refrain, which calls up the spirit of socialist martyrs and in verse five sneers at those who "cringe before the rich man's frown".
Cringing before rich man's frown; Yousay IN YOUR OPINION..