quail at (something)
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
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
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- 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