gun-shy
7
7.9
- adjective
- /ˈɡʌnˌʃaɪ/
- Informal
:
temeroso
- After her last relationship ended badly, she became gun-shy about dating again.
- made her gun-shy
- get gun-shy
- still gun-shy
Oh, man, I just I I'm, I'm gun shy because I went so big last time.
- Oh, man, I just I I'm, I'm gun shy because I went so big last time.
- They made her feel terrible and that had made her a little gun shy.
Examples
-
I'm surprised that you are not a little more gun-shy about this.
-
Despite this bevy of interest, my previous fundraising experience had left me gun-shy and reticent about committing.
Blog text (31) -
Well, then what do you do if you are so gun shy?
-
I'm a little gun shy now Chase, but all right, lock and load.
-
Reporter: Are you gun-shy about facing Max again?
-
The American people and military are likely to be gun-shy about any future interventions.
Academic text (1999) -
Since when have you been gun-shy about traveling, Jess?
-
Well, forgive me if I'm a tad gun-shy after my last date with my father.
-
I think the last couple of seasons have dragged us from pillar to post, and it's made some of us gun-shy.
Blog text (21) -
Many of the United States' allies are now gun-shy of cooperating with American security and law enforcement agencies because of the practice of rendition.
Blog text (14)
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Feeling fear or worry about something
343
1.0
Nervous and likely to avoid people or new situations
247
3.5
Not willing to do something because you feel unsure
143
1.3
Feeling afraid or nervous and easily frightened
73
3.2
Slow to act or speak because you feel unsure
60
3.5
Shy and afraid to do new or risky things
36
5.0
Feeling worried that something bad will happen
1
7.7
Not wanting to feel close to others because it causes anxiety
1
9.9
Feeling shy and unsure about what to do
1
9.9
Feeling nervous and afraid to do something new
Careful about doing something again because of a bad past experience
Not confident and acting unsure
Antonyms
How Hesitant
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The phrase gun-shy comes from hunting dogs that would jump at the sound of a gun and so became shy of guns. That's why gun-shy now means someone who is 'nervous' or 'hesitant' because of a bad past experience.