shrinking violet


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shrink·ing violet

(shrĭng′kĭng)
n. Informal
A shy or retiring person.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

shrinking violet

n
informal a shy person
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

shrink′ing vi′olet


n.
a shy or self-effacing person.
[1925–30]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

shrinking violet

- Violets actually shrink as if they become shy, giving us this term.
See also related terms for shy.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun 1. [画像:shrinking violet - someone who shrinks from familiarity with others]shrinking violet - someone who shrinks from familiarity with others
coward - a person who shows fear or timidity
wallflower - remains on sidelines at social event
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

shrinking violet

n (inf: = shy person) → schüchternes Pflänzchen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
References in periodicals archive ?
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SHRINKING violet Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) works in the toy section of a department store in Carol (tonight, Channel 4, 9pm).
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THIS Treacle Toffee large tote PS48, is roomy enough for all your essentials, from Betty & Walter (www.bettyandwalter.com) NO SHRINKING VIOLET...
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Mike Dean's on the blower today, and the Wirral Whistler's no shrinking violet. Stan James' 4/5 about OVER 45 points is the gold among the day's short prices.
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While Berlin frontwoman Terri Nunn has never been a shrinking violet, here the hetero-flexible songstress is going full sex bomb.
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The company stated that the two films in question are the Witches of OZ - based on the works of author L Frank Baum, and Radio Rebel from Danielle Joseph's novel Shrinking Violet.
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The comedian and actor has never exactly been a shrinking violet, and he's already discussed his many faults and achievements in two volumes of autobiography.
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