Idiom
shrinking violet
Meaning
A very shy or timid person, who avoids contact with others if possible.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Examples
“She is a shrinking violet who rarely speaks in class.”
“My brother is no shrinking violet when he talks about football.”
“Although he is a talented musician, he is such a shrinking violet that he refuses to perform on stage.”
“You cannot be a shrinking violet if you want to work in sales because you have to start conversations with strangers every day.”
“Despite her brilliant insights during private discussions, she remained a shrinking violet in large meetings, preferring to let others take the lead.”
Examples
simple
“She is a shrinking violet who rarely speaks in class.”
“My brother is no shrinking violet when he talks about football.”
contextual
“Although he is a talented musician, he is such a shrinking violet that he refuses to perform on stage.”
“You cannot be a shrinking violet if you want to work in sales because you have to start conversations with strangers every day.”
complex
“Despite her brilliant insights during private discussions, she remained a shrinking violet in large meetings, preferring to let others take the lead.”
Origin
The term emerged in the early 19th century, likely as a reference to the inconspicuous growth of the violet, or genus Viola. While popular usage assumes a metaphorical origin for human shyness, the phrase was first recorded in a literal sense. The association rests upon the plant's tendency to be overlooked, though the transition from botanical observation to a description of social reticence remains a matter of conjecture rather than documented record.
Key words
- Updated