shy
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.feeling nervous or uncomfortable when you are around other people.
adj.disinclined to familiar social approach; reserved or timid in the presence of others.
Simple“The shy boy hid behind his mother when the guests arrived at the house.”
In context“Despite her professional success as a public speaker, she remained remarkably shy in small, informal social gatherings.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having less than a specific amount or being just under a goal.
adj.falling short of a specified amount, distance, or goal; often used with a measurement.
Simple“We are still ten dollars shy of the total we need for the tickets.”
In context“The marathon runner finished just a few seconds shy of the world record, despite the challenging weather conditions.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
adj.describing voters who do not want to tell people who they are voting for.
adj.referring to voters who are less likely to reveal their true intentions to pollsters, potentially skewing election predictions.
Simple“Polls were wrong because many shy voters didn't admit who they supported.”
In context“Political analysts often struggle to account for the 'shy voter' factor, which can lead to significant discrepancies between exit polls and final results.”
Synonymsreticentunforthcoming - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to move away from something suddenly because you are afraid or nervous.
v.to start suddenly aside through fright; to recoil or avoid something due to caution or lack of confidence.
Simple“The horse shied at the loud noise and nearly threw the rider off.”
In context“Investors often shy away from emerging markets during periods of global economic instability, preferring the perceived safety of established currencies.”
Usageoften used with the preposition 'away' as in 'shy away from'.
- 05 C2 Proficiency
v.to throw something with a quick, sudden movement.
v.to fling or toss something with a swift, sideways motion.
Simple“He shied a stone across the surface of the quiet lake.”
In context“The children spent the afternoon shying pebbles at the old tin cans they had lined up along the garden wall.”
- 06 C2 Proficiency
Usage shy away
From Middle English shy (“shy”), from Old English sċēoh (“shy”), from Proto-West Germanic skeuh (“shy, fearful”), from Proto-Germanic skeuhaz (“shy, fearful”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian skjou (“shy”), Dutch schuw (“shy”), German scheu (“shy”), Danish sky (“shy”). Etymology tree Middle English shy English shy
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.