shrinking violet
shrinking violet · shrinking violets
недотрога
A very shy or timid person, who avoids contact with others if possibleA very shy or timid person, who avoids contact with others if possible.
/ˈʃɹɪŋkɪŋ ˈvaɪələt/
Meaning
1 senses(idiomatic)A very shy or timid person, who avoids contact with others if possible.
June, no shrinking violet she, crossed the room and introduced herself to the newcomers.
недотро́гаnedotróga
someone who shrinks from familiarity with others
Translations
2 languagesРусский
By meaning 1
very shy person:
Origin
Possibly from the inconspicuous nature of the violet (genus Viola) flower and plant. The tPossibly from the inconspicuous nature of the violet (genus Viola) flower and plant. The term appears to have been first used in the literal sense in the early 19th century.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: shrinking violets| Singular | shrinking violet |
|---|---|
| Plural | shrinking violets |
regular
Synonyms
1 synonymsClose in meaning
- someone who shrinks from familiarity with others:shy person
Word family
1 related wordsRelatedwallflower