shy

Everyday

1. Shy means nervous and quiet with people you do not know well. tree →
2. A shy animal is easily frightened and keeps away from people. tree →
3. To shy away from something is to avoid it because you are nervous. tree →
4. To shy (of a horse) is to jump suddenly because it is frightened. tree →
5. "Shy of" a number means a little less than it. tree →
6. To be shy of something means to be wary of it or unwilling to accept it. tree →

In the lessons

In feelings lessons, many children feel shy in new places; it is fine, and small steps (saying hello, smiling) help. Being kind to shy classmates helps them join in. In nature lessons, many wild animals are shy, so you must be quiet to see them. Phrases: shy of strangers, too shy to, camera-shy, shy away from, just shy of (just under).

Examples

• She was too shy to sing in front of the class. tree →
• The shy boy hid behind his mum. tree →
• Deer are shy animals. tree →
• Don't be shy — come and join us! tree →
• He shied away from answering. tree →
• The horse shied at the plastic bag. tree →
• The tower is just shy of one hundred metres. tree →
• Be shy of favours bestowed at the expense of others. tree →

Note

Noun: shyness. Adverb: shyly. Shy is not the same as unfriendly or rude. In maths, "just shy of 100" means a little less than 100 (like 98 or 99), not exactly 100.