afraid of own shadow

afraid of (one's) own shadow

Easily scared; jumpy; timid. Everyone was surprised that Janice led the meeting with confidence, as she normally seems afraid of her own shadow. Please don't take my sister to a haunted house on Halloween—she's afraid of her own shadow. Please try not to make any sudden moves around my cat—the poor thing is afraid of her own shadow.

See also: afraid, of, own, shadow

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

afraid of one's own shadow

Fig. easily frightened; always frightened, timid, or suspicious. (An exaggeration.) After Tom was robbed, he was even afraid of his own shadow.

See also: afraid, of, own, shadow

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.