gun-shy

[ guhn-shahy ]

adjective

1. frightened by the sound of a gunshot:

   a gun-shy bird dog.

2. hesitant, wary, or distrustful, especially because of previous unpleasant experience.

gun-shy

adjective

1. afraid of a gun or the sound it makes

   a gun-shy dog is useless for shooting

Other Words From

• gun-shyness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of gun-shy¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg