shies away from
Recoils from confronting
To shy away from something is to avoid or recoil from it, usually out of fear, discomfort, or reluctance: She shies away from confrontation, He never shied away from a challenge.
The image is of a horse startling sideways from something alarming.
The phrase often implies the avoidance is instinctive rather than calculated.
- evadesAvoids by cunning
- hesitatesShows momentary indecision
- gets cold feetBecomes afraid to proceed
- recoilsDraws back suddenly
- flinchesInvoluntary recoil movements
backs off · dodge · duck · fears · cower · turns tail · withdraw · pulls back · cringe · distances · avoids · shrink · demurs · avert · balks · dreads · squirm · circumvents
APPROACH vs AVOIDANCE
shies away fromembraces
Holds lovingly, or adopts
welcomes · approaches · goes for · leans into · accepts
ACTIVE PURSUIT vs PASSIVE RETREAT
shies away frompursues
Actively seeks out
approaches · chases · goes after · seeks · leans into