Shy away Meaning in English
expression
ˈʃaɪ/ /əˈweɪ
SHY-uh-WAY
ʃˈaɪ/ /ɐwˈeɪ
SHY-uh-WAY
Definition
To avoid doing something because you feel nervous, afraid, or uncomfortable about it.
Usage & Nuances
'Shy away' is informal and nearly always followed by 'from' (e.g., 'shy away from responsibility'). Used to describe avoidance due to discomfort, not because of laziness. Often connected to fear, uncertainty, or social situations.
Spanish: evitar - rehuir - esquivarPortuguese (BR): evitar - fugir de - esquivar-sePortuguese (PT): evitar - fugir de - esquivar-seChinese (Simplified): 回避 - 躲避Chinese (Traditional): 迴避 - 躲避Hindi: कतराना - दूर रहनाArabic: يتجنب - يبتعد عنBengali: এড়িয়ে চলা - দূরে সরে থাকাRussian: избегать - сторонитьсяJapanese: 避ける - ためらうVietnamese: né tránh - lảng tránhKorean: 피하다 - 꺼리다Turkish: kaçınmak - uzak durmakUrdu: پیچھے ہٹنا - گریز کرناIndonesian: menjauh - menghindar
Example Sentences
Some people shy away from public speaking.
basic
He tends to shy away from difficult conversations.
basic
Don't shy away from asking questions in class.
basic
She always shies away from taking the lead at work, even when she's qualified.
natural
They didn't shy away from criticizing the new rules.
natural
If you want to succeed, you can't afford to shy away from big challenges.
natural