Shrink Back (Verb)
Meaning
Pull away from a source of disgust or fear.
Classification
Verbs of walking, flying, swimming.
Examples
- As she noticed the spider approaching her foot, she instinctively tried to shrink back in her seat, hoping to escape its path.
- The smell of rotten eggs was so overpowering that people around began to shrink back, covering their noses in distaste.
- His eyes wide with terror, the child tried to shrink back into his mother's skirt, seeking comfort and safety from the loud storm outside.
- The sound of screeching tires made the pedestrians shrink back onto the sidewalk, narrowly avoiding the speeding car.
- She saw the blood stain on the ground and immediately began to shrink back, not wanting to get any closer to the gruesome scene.