gun-shy

[ guhn-shahy ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

frightened by the sound of a gunshot:
a gun-shy bird dog.
hesitant, wary, or distrustful, especially because of previous unpleasant experience.

gun-shy

Origin of gun-shy¹

First recorded in 1880–85

France wants to lead the effort jointly with Britain, but the U.K., also gun-shy after the Iraq war, backs the NATO tack.

Attorney General Eric Holder says it will be a priority; Speaker Nancy Pelosi so far has been gun-shy about taking on the issue.

To assume they won't put up a fight is a certain way of making the best troops gun-shy.

My pups are accustomed to the crack of a 22 rifle, as I shoot near them while young, so never have any gun-shy dogs.

Folks in Tascosa ain't a bit gun-shy, an' right now they've got their necks bowed.

You've got three men in yo' posse who could hit a house from inside, the rest being as gun-shy as a school of girls.

Gun-shy investors in Wall Street, and elsewhere too, will have nothing of them.

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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