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😳 Nervous with people ➖ Less than needed 🏃‍♂️ To move back 🎯 A quick throw 🥎 To throw quickly
to shy

to shy

1 9.5
To throw something quickly with a sudden arm movement
  • verb
  • /ʃaɪ/
  • UK
translation icon : lanzar
  • The player quickly shy the frisbee to his friend waiting nearby.

Examples

  • Things I'm going to do things I'm going to do this is I could be shy out of a cannon if you'd like.

  • Thus, he did not shy from considering approximate symmetries of nature.

    Academic text (1995)

  • The fight for the abolition of slavery was an uphill battle, and Spielberg does not shy away from the corruption, bribes, and negotiations necessary to pass the 13th Amendment.

    Blog text (29)

  • He decided to shy the ball toward the goal during the match.

  • With a quick motion, she shy the paper airplane across the room.

Synonyms

to throw
vsto shy
∞ 1.0

To send something through the air by a quick movement of the arm

is specifically about very quick sudden action with a sharp arm movement
to toss
vsto shy
348 1.0

To throw something lightly to another person

is about a quick sudden movement rather than a light casual action
to fling
vsto shy
16 4.1

To move yourself suddenly and forcefully, often without control

is quick and sudden but not necessarily forceful or uncontrolled

Idioms

few cards shy of a full deck
  • Slur
9.9

Not thinking clearly or not very intelligent

once bitten, twice shy
  • Informal
7.9

Careful about doing something again because of a bad past experience

Phrasal Verbs

to shy away from
41 4.6

Avoid doing something because you feel afraid or unsure

to fight shy of
  • UK
7.7

To avoid doing something because you do not want to try it

Compounds

shy person
4 2.5

A person who feels nervous around others and avoids social situations

shy bladder
  • Specialized
2 8.3

Difficulty peeing when other people are nearby, especially in public bathrooms

work-shy
  • UK
8.5

Not willing to do a job or make an effort

How Hard

to hurl
53 3.6
to throw
∞ 1.0
to shy
  • UK
1 9.5
to toss
348 1.0

Surface Forms

shy infinitive
shying present participle
shies third person singular
shied past
shied past participle

Etymology

Shy as a verb meaning 'to throw' is an older use that means to fling something quickly, like a child giving a snowball a sharp toss. So when someone 'shies' a stone, they make a sudden, quick throw.