recoil at the sight (of someone or something)

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recoil at the sight (of someone or something)

To shrink back, cower, or cringe upon seeing someone or something. Children recoiled at the sight of the man after his face was disfigured in that accident. We all recoiled at the sight of such a gruesome accident. Some may recoil at the sight, but blood and gore has never bothered me in the slightest. I suppose it's part of the reason I got into forensic pathology.
See also: recoil, sight, someone
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

recoil at the sight (of someone or something)

 and recoil at the thought (of someone or something)
Fig. to flinch or cringe at the sight or thought of someone or something. Sally recoiled at the sight of Gerry, who had said something unspeakable. Mary recoiled at the very thought.
See also: recoil, sight
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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