fight shy

Definitions

1. 1

   To avoid meeting at a close distance or at close quarters

   To avoid meeting at a close distance or at close quarters; to keep out of reach, to avoid.

   • Maybe she is imprisoned there and cannot get out: it would be a terrible fate, would it not, Signorina? Me, I think it is better to fight shy of the heathen gods."
   • "That's worse than useless. He's drunk. And we'll only get him against us, for he'd order us to keep out of the mess. He'd fight shy of entangling alliances. He'd forbid me to send, for he's got his ship to clear from that port."
   • I was struck by the manner in which Richie would always tend towards overstating the skills of players while fighting shy of criticising, as if he felt he was an ambassador for them.

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