Quail (Verb)
Meaning
Draw back, as with fear or pain; "she flinched when they showed the slaughtering of the calf".
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- She quailed at the thought of public speaking, her voice shaking with every word.
- The tourists quailed as they watched the locals handling venomous snakes with ease.
- As the loud thunder boomed outside, the little girl quailed behind her mother's skirt.
- He quailed when his boss scolded him in front of the entire office.
- The soldier quailed as enemy fire rained down on their position.