shy away (from someone or something)
shy away (from someone or something)
1. To withdraw, recede, or recoil (from someone or something) in or as in fear. Are you mad at me? You've been shying away from me all day. The child shied away as the strange man approached.
2. To avoid, evade, or neglect something. You wanted to lead this branch, which means you can't shy away from the thornier aspects of the job. We need someone who won't shy away when it's time to make tough decisions.
See also: away, shy, someone
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
shy away (from someone or something)
to avoid someone or something. The dog shies away from John since he kicked it. I can understand why the dog would shy away.
See also: away, shy
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
shy away from
Avoid, evade, as in He shied away from all questions concerning his private life. [Late 1700s]
See also: away, shy
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
shy away
v.
1. To retreat out of a sense of shyness: The deer poked its head out from the bushes and then shied away when it saw me.
2. To avoid doing something, especially out of caution or anxiety: The company shied away from giving raises this year.
See also: away, shy
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- be far and away
- are we away
- Are we away?
- cringe
- cringe away from
- cringe away from (someone or something)
- away
- draw away
- do away with
- do away with (someone, something, or oneself)