flinch from

flinch from (someone or something)

To recoil from someone or something, often in fear. Teddy flinched from the nurse as she approached him with the needle. We all flinched from the barking dog.
See also: flinch
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

flinch from someone or something

to move back suddenly from someone or something; to shrink (back) (from someone or something) suddenly. She struck at him and he flinched from her. At the last minute the center fielder flinched from the ball.
See also: flinch
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • flinch
  • flinch from (someone or something)
  • bark at
  • bark at (someone or something)
  • bark out at
  • bark (something) out at (someone)
  • bark (something) to (someone)
  • bark (something) out (to someone)
  • lance through
  • shrink from
References in periodicals archive
A compelling metaphorical journey that compares the struggles and strains of family to polar expeditions, this cleverly written and illustrated novel doesn't flinch from its exploration of coming of age in the modern world.
Alicia Kopf: Brother in Ice
DUCHESS OF GURNWALL Camilla & Charles flinch from bird
Where eagles heir..
Summary: The Chancellor insists the Government will not flinch from the "hard choices on public spending" after the country emerges from recession.
UK spending plan: Darling v Cameron
In a speech on Government plans to "reprioritise" spending, Mr Darling will say he "won't flinch from difficult decisions".
Tough call on public purse
His art was frequently of a moral nature; he was an ardent pro-lifer who did not flinch from portraying the graphic reality of abortion on occasion.
William Kurelek: from darkness to light
But we should not flinch from demanding the same tolerance and respect for the British way of life," he said in an article for the Daily Telegraph.
Multicultural rethink call; NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS ROUND-UP
Spain coach Luis Aragones refused to condemn the Spanish fans but McClaren called on Fifa not to flinch from strong action as he insisted that Aragones must also take some of the blame.
McClaren hits out at Spanish coach
She did not flinch from touching them and her actions must have been so heartening for them.
THOUGHT for the DAY
``It may be a conclusion you come to with a heavy heart, but if, as we suggest, it must be that conclusion, and you find that is what happened, you must not flinch from returning verdicts of guilty.''
Jury told `not to flinch'
Nor does she flinch from acknowledging the increasing discouragement that came in the wake of the shutdowns.
A Town Without Steel: Envisioning Homestead
Lords Leader Baroness Jay pledged at a Labour conference fringe meeting that Ministers would not flinch from securing this "enormous political victory".
Jay sticks to Lords pledge
It's something of a mission with me to present characters who are different, to love their oddness, not flinch from it.
Odd lot
A true loyalty to Britain will neither pretend to be unmoved by the good and the lovely, nor will it flinch from the depressing and disturbing side of the picture.' Responsibility towards history means `the carrying forward of a story, the plot of which has already been part-written, and in which one is now part-author, part-actor.
Contributers write about books which have enhanced their lives ... a book which made him think twice about what it means to be British
He told the Cabinet last week: "We will not flinch from tackling the rackets.
Blair's war on fraud
As a senator, Kennedy took a stand against corruption in labor leadership and as a candidate didn't flinch from taking on the unions.
Substance abuse