Learn English – the verb for shy

verbsword-request

I know that in English I have to say "don't be shy" or "He is shy" etc. Always (at least for me) it is be + adjective. But I'm looking for the verb (or verbs) which denotes the same meaning and then I can use to + infinitive in the meaning which mentioned above.

Best Answer

To sum up:

The verb to shy is used to express a sudden movement especially of an animal:

(shies, shying, shied, shied BrE /ʃaɪd/ ; NAmE /ʃaɪd/)

  • [intransitive] shy (at something) (especially of a horse) to turn away with a sudden movement because it is afraid or surprised:

    • My horse shied at the unfamiliar noise. Her horse shied violently at a gorse bush.

But probably its more common usage is in the idiomatic expression:

shy away (from something):

  • to avoid doing something because you are nervous or frightened:

    • Hugh never shied away from his responsibilities. The newspapers have shied away from investigating the story.

As noted there are other less common, outdated usages:

  • "to throw (a missile) with a jerk or toss," 1787, colloquial, of unknown origin and uncertain connection to shy (adj.).

  • "to recoil," 1640s, from shy (adj.).

Note also the expression coconut shy:

  • a game at a fair where you throw balls at a row of coconuts and try to knock them down to win them

OLD, Etymonline

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