cringe before
cringe before (someone or something)
To shrink away from someone or something, usually out of fear. I cringed before my dad when he caught me sneaking in after curfew. Once it became clear that the teacher knew I had plagiarized, I could only cringe before her. I cringed before the creepy guy who wouldn't stop staring at me and practically leapt onto the train when it arrived!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
cringe before someone or something
to cower or recoil in the presence of someone or something. Jeff cringed before the wrath of the policeman.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
References in periodicals archive
Some of his junior colleagues appeared not to know the refrain, which calls up the spirit of socialist martyrs and in verse five sneers at those who "
cringe before the rich man's frown".
Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc
Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.