fight shy of

Idioms  

1. Avoid meeting or confronting someone, as in “I have ... had to fight shy of invitations that would exhaust time and spirits” (Washington Irving, Life and Letters, 1821). This usage may allude to a military reluctance to meet or engage with the enemy. [Late 1700s]

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Example Sentences

"It would change the whole face of British business. Investors would fight shy of firms that can't show they're ready," he says.

From BBC

He would not fight shy of strike action where necessary, but his message is one of engagement.

From BBC

Many of these one-off support measures will start to be wound down, but governments often fight shy of politically tricky measures to keep a lid more firmly on prices, such as banning multiple property ownership or easing building regulations.

From Reuters

I don’t see him running an antiques shop in the Cotswolds but I would fight shy of killing him off.

From The Guardian

Stephens is one fight shy of the record shared by Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Jim Miller but will not tie Cerrone on Saturday.

From Los Angeles Times