To fight shy

To fight shy
Fight Fight (f[imac]t), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Fought} (f[add]t); p. pr. & vb. n. {Fighting}.] [OE. fihten, fehten, AS. feohtan; akin to D. vechten, OHG. fehtan, G. fechten, Sw. f["a]kta, Dan. fegte, and perh. to E. fist; cf. L. pugnare to fight, pugnus fist.] 1. To strive or contened for victory, with armies or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms; -- followed by with or against. [1913 Webster]

You do fight against your country's foes. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. To act in opposition to anything; to struggle against; to contend; to strive; to make resistance. [1913 Webster]

{To fight shy}, to avoid meeting fairly or at close quarters; to keep out of reach. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • fight shy of something — british phrase if you fight shy of something, you do not feel willing to do it because it might cause problems for you Thesaurus: unwillingness and to be unwillingsynonym Main entry: fight …   Useful english dictionary

  • fight shy of something — fight shy of (something/doing something) to try to avoid something. He fought shy of entering his poems in the competition, although everyone said he should. Ellen fights shy of parties she hates crowds …   New idioms dictionary

  • fight shy of doing something — fight shy of (something/doing something) to try to avoid something. He fought shy of entering his poems in the competition, although everyone said he should. Ellen fights shy of parties she hates crowds …   New idioms dictionary

  • fight shy of — (something/doing something) to try to avoid something. He fought shy of entering his poems in the competition, although everyone said he should. Ellen fights shy of parties she hates crowds …   New idioms dictionary

  • fight shy of something doing something — fight ˈshy of sth/of doing sth f20 idiom to be unwilling to accept sth or do sth, and to try to avoid it • Successive governments have fought shy of such measures. Main entry: ↑fightidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • fight shy of of doing something — fight ˈshy of sth/of doing sth f20 idiom to be unwilling to accept sth or do sth, and to try to avoid it • Successive governments have fought shy of such measures. Main entry: ↑fightidiom …   Useful english dictionary

  • fight shy of — ► fight shy of avoid through unwillingness. Main Entry: ↑fight …   English terms dictionary

  • fight shy of — FLINCH FROM, demur from, recoil from; have scruples about, have misgivings about, have qualms about, be averse to, be chary of, be loath to, be reluctant to, be disinclined to, be afraid to, hesitate to, baulk at; informal boggle at; archaic… …   Useful english dictionary

  • fight shy — Synonyms and related words: avoid, blench, boggle, demur, falter, fight shy of, flinch, give place to, hang back, hang off, have qualms, hesitate, hold aloof, hold off, jib, jump, jump a mile, keep aloof, keep away from, keep clear of, keep from …   Moby Thesaurus

  • fight shy —    If you fight shy of something, such as a task, a problem or a duty, you want to avoid doing it or you are unwiling to confront it.     He had money problems for years but he fought shy of asking his children for help …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • fight shy of something — British if you fight shy of something, you do not feel willing to do it because it might cause problems for you …   English dictionary

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