quail

quail at (something)

To become fearful of, nervous about, or averse to something; to avoid or shrink from something. I know that David quails at the thought of flying in an airplane. We quailed at the notion of shutting down the company that our great-great-grandfather created. We can't have you leading the team if you're going to quail at the first sign of difficulty.
See also: quail

quail before (someone or something)

To tremble with fear before someone or something; to cower or whimper in the face of someone or something. The headmistress at my old school was so menacing—we all quailed before her whenever we were called to her office. The people of this country will quail before the might of our army.
See also: before, quail

quail with (an emotion)

To shrink back, cower, or tremble as a result of some intense emotion, especially fear. The sight would make even the most stalwart quail with terror. My heart quailed with shame as I thought over what had happened.
See also: quail
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

quail at someone or something

to show fear at someone or something; to shrink from someone or something. Todd quailed at the thought of what he had to do. The students quailed at the teacher who had been so hard on them in the past.
See also: quail

quail before someone or something

to cower before or at the threat of someone or something. The students quailed before the angry principal. They quailed before the thought of punishment.
See also: before, quail
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

quail

n. any girl or woman, especially considered sexually. (Crude.) Look at that cute little quail over there.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • a straw will show which way the wind blows
  • a/the feel of (something)
  • (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
  • a crack at (someone or something)
  • all right
  • (you) wanna make something of it?
  • all for the best
  • a thing of the past
  • a slew of (something)
  • a bird in the hand
References in periodicals archive
This 7,000-acre tract of land is an experiment in, at least partially, developing quality quail habitat.
2019 Quail & Pheasant FORECAST
Fountain Quail Water Treatment is a leading produced water treatment, recycle, and reuse business with operations throughout the Permian Basin and other key producing basins across the United States.
XRI Acquires Fountain Quail Water Treatment
Fountain Quail Water Treatment is a produced water treatment, recycling and reuse business with operations throughout the Permian Basin and other key producing basins across the United States.
XRI closes acquisition of Fountain Quail water treatment division
After getting such idea, it was planned to incorporate interventions in Japanese quail hatching and brooding phase through combining them in the hatcher for variable lengths.
POST HATCH PERFORMANCE OF MEAT TYPE JAPANESE QUAIL INFLUENCED BY TIME OF OFFERING FEED AND AMBIENT ENVIRONMENT
Quail eggs treat many conditions and are effective in treating cough and asthma.
Amazing Health Benefits of Quail Egg
The farm owner, Abdul Razzaq, said coal was used to provide proper atmosphere to the quail in the winter season.
Two farm workers die due to suffocation
Mr Moduke said quail eggs contained more protein, phosphorus and iron, which were vital and helped in managing diseases such as TB, asthma, diabetes as well as male potency.
Youth puts trust in quail bird farming
Figure 2 showed that logistic model was very accurate up to the 35 days of age of quails, at 42 days, the model began to underestimate the weight of quail.
Adjusting weight growth curve of male quails Coturnix japonica reared in the semi-arid region of the State of Pernambuco
Coffman began her career as an Oklahoma Bankers Association intern with Quail Creek Bank in 2009.
Quail Creek Bank promotes Coffman, Blades
Once a common occurrence on our property, it has sadly been 25 years since our last quail sighting.
Quail in the Classroom
Three poachers engaged in falcon netting, one in quail netting and two others engaged in migratory birds hunting were arrested, Sajjad added.
Six poachers held with falcons and hunting equipment in Rajanpur
Synopsis: "While There Were Still Wild Birds: A Personal History of Southern Quail Hunting" by Richard E.
While There Were Still Wild Birds
ON a summer walk around the Cleveland countryside you might be fortunate to hear a quail issue its distinctive call.
GO WILDWITH ERIC PAYLOR
Feed intake per quail was corrected by the date of death, when occurred.
Digestible methionine + cysteine: lysine ratios for growing meat-type quails/Relacces de metionina + cisterna: lisina digestiveis para codornas de corte em crescimento
KAMALIA -- aA local quail and ostrich meat seller organized an awareness seminar at a local hotel in which merchants, social and political personalities including Kamalia Municipal Committee Chairman Malik Sharif were invited.
Moot highlights importance of ostrich, quail farming