shy (redirected from shyness)

fight shy of something/doing something

to try to avoid something. He fought shy of entering his poems in the competition, although everyone said he should. Ellen fights shy of parties - she hates crowds.

See also: fight

Once bitten, twice shy.

something that you say which means when you have had an unpleasant experience you are much more careful to avoid similar experiences in the future. After he left her she refused to go out with anyone else for a long time - once bitten, twice shy, I suppose.

See also: once, twice

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shy away from someone

to avoid someone. She shied away from reporters during her brief visit to this country.

See also: away, from

shy away from something/doing something

to avoid something. I tend to shy away from big guitar solos on records. At first, some companies shied away from selling merchandise on the Internet, but not for long.

See also: away, from

shy of something

having less of something than is needed or expected. The bill was four votes shy of a majority. He was a large man, just shy of six feet tall.

short of something