gun-shy

gun-shy

1. Frightened of using a gun or by the sound of one firing. My other three sons all really love to hunt, but Tommy's a little bit gun-shy.
2. Hesitant or wary of something or some action, especially after having previously suffered a negative experience of such. I've been rather gun-shy about driving ever since I got into that car accident last year.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • in the gun
  • pull a gun
  • pull a gun on (one)
  • hold a gun to (one's) head
  • hold a gun to head
  • hold a gun to someone's head
  • hold/put a gun to somebody's head
  • put a gun to (one's) head
  • Quaker gun
  • have a gun to (one's) head
References in periodicals archive
"I'm not going to become gun-shy just because he put me down.
Jazza confident of winning title; Dickens has eye on prize
As a result, investors are still gun-shy about returning to the industry.
The ebbs and flows of life-sciences VC
"We got penalised early and became a bit gun-shy. We sat back a bit," he added.
'You can't deny it, the better team won' AUSSIE VIEW James Horwill
Consequently, students became "gun-shy" about trying to register for summer courses, says one community college spokesman.
Community colleges able to serve more students because of Prop. 30
Whatever was behind the latest delay on fracking, it is probably fair to say the governor might be politically gun-shy (no pun intended) about the controversial drilling process given the backlash he is getting from his SAFE Act legislation that has triggered a run on gun sales and protests in Albany against Cuomo.
Fracking decision delayed again; top Cuomo energy aide resigns
A slow-burning tater that's not gun-shy when it matters, "Dead Man's Burden" reps an impressive first feature from producer-turned-helmer Jared Moshe.
Dead Man's Burden
In early April, New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), said, "We have gotten gun-shy ...
Why are the bishops silent?
Boeing is "gun-shy" for 777X launch, Air Lease CEO says.
Company Watch - Air Lease
There are reasons we are gun-shy. We got taken in three or four times, and remember that we have Doyle Field on the docket."
Drake House deal debated by council
Tight credit markets and gun-shy lenders mean appraisers are often pushed to be conservative with their valuations and come in below market.
'House-flopping' on the rise
INDIANAPOLIS v TENNESSEE Sky Sports 1, 1.20am INDIANAPOLIS have regularly let their backers down lately as star quarterback Peyton Manning has turned into an interception machine, but punters should take a leaf out of his book as now is not the time to be gun-shy, writes Simon Milham.
Manning can show he's still best in the business; AMERICAN FOOTBALL
Supporters say that the gun-shy should not fear the new law since it requires that gun wranglers refrain from drinking when they bring their weapons into these establishments, that, um, serve drinks.
Let's do shots! Booze and bullets are a lethal cocktail no matter how you shake it
Jonathan Knee, a media banker at Evercore Partners Inc, said most executives remain "gun-shy" and any dealmaking would likely involve cable channels or modest new media plays, rather than the blockbuster takeovers.
At Sun Valley, brighter moods may not mean big deals
Tim Yeager, associate professor of finance at the University of Arkansas, said, "One thing that's clear is that we have plenty of competition and the competition is forcing banks to take more risks." But banks are also gun-shy, he said, and that is cutting into profits.
After two-year lull, banks resume activity in market
I trained hard but nothing went right for me, I felt a bit gun-shy.
Big Mac must hang up his gloves now