fight+shy+of
21fight shy of — Australian Slang keep carefully aloof from (a person, affair, etc.) …
22fight shy of — avoid, stay away from …
23fight shy of — idi to keep away from; avoid …
24Shy — (sh[imac]), a. [Compar. {Shier} (sh[imac] [ e]r) or {Shyer}; superl. {Shiest} or {Shyest}.] [OE. schey, skey, sceouh, AS. sce[ o]h; akin to Dan. sky, Sw. skygg, D. schuw, MHG. schiech, G. scheu, OHG. sciuhen to be or make timid. Cf. {Eschew}.] 1 …
25fight — ► VERB (past and past part. fought) 1) take part in a violent struggle involving physical force or weapons. 2) engage in (a war or contest). 3) quarrel or argue. 4) (fight off) defend oneself against an attack by. 5) struggle to overcome,… …
26shy — shy1 [shī] adj. shyer or shier, shyest or shiest [ME schei, dial. development < OE sceoh, akin to Ger scheu, shy, prob. < IE * skeuk , harassed (> OSlav ščuti, to pursue); akin to * skeub > SCOFF1] 1. easily frightened or startled;… …
27Fight — (f[imac]t), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Fought} (f[add]t); p. pr. & vb. n. {Fighting}.] [OE. fihten, fehten, AS. feohtan; akin to D. vechten, OHG. fehtan, G. fechten, Sw. f[ a]kta, Dan. fegte, and perh. to E. fist; cf. L. pugnare to fight, pugnus fist.] …
28fight — fight1 W1S1 [faıt] v past tense and past participle fought [fo:t US fo:t] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(war)¦ 2¦(hit people)¦ 3¦(try to do something)¦ 4¦(prevent something)¦ 5¦(compete)¦ 6¦(argue)¦ 7¦(sport)¦ 8¦(emotion)¦ 9¦(law)¦ …
29fight — fight1 [ faıt ] (past tense and past participle fought [ fɔt ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 use weapons ▸ 2 hit/kick/bite each other ▸ 3 disagree/argue ▸ 4 try hard to prevent something ▸ 5 try hard to achieve something ▸ 6 try not to show/do something ▸ 7… …
30shy — I. /ʃaɪ / (say shuy) adjective (shyer or shier, shyest or shiest) 1. bashful; retiring. 2. easily frightened away; timid. 3. suspicious; distrustful: once bitten, twice shy. 4. reluctant; wary. 5. short: shy of funds. 6. Colloquial failing to pay …