bashful
/'bæʃful/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Feeling or showing nervousness, discomfort, or embarrassment in social situations, especially when receiving attention: "bashful" describes a personality trait of being easily embarrassed, shy, or reluctant to draw attention to oneself.
- Self-consciously timid or reserved: It implies a quiet, shrinking disposition due to self-consciousness.
Usage
- Describing a person's character or typical behavior:
- He was too bashful to speak to the large audience.
- Despite her talent, she remains bashful about her achievements.
- Describing a momentary reaction or expression:
- She gave a bashful smile when she was complimented.
Advanced Usage
- "bashful about (something)": feeling shy or embarrassed regarding a specific thing.
- He is bashful about his singing voice.
- Literary/Descriptive Use: Often used to describe a gentle, retiring demeanor.
- The bashful child hid behind her mother's skirt.
Variants and Related Words
- Bashfully (adverb): In a shy or timid manner.
- He smiled bashfully.
- Bashfulness (noun): The quality or state of being bashful.
- Her bashfulness prevented her from joining the conversation.
Synonyms
- Shy: Nervous or timid in the company of other people.
- Timid: Showing a lack of courage or confidence; easily frightened.
- Coy: Making a pretense of shyness or modesty.
- Diffident: Modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.
- Reticent: Not revealing one's thoughts or feelings readily.
Antonyms
- Bold: Confident and courageous.
- Assertive: Having a confident and forceful personality.
- Outgoing: Friendly and socially confident.
- Brazen: Bold and without shame.
Idioms and Phrases
- (As) bashful as a schoolboy: Extremely shy or easily embarrassed, often in a charming or innocent way.
- When he met his hero, he was as bashful as a schoolboy.
Adjective
- disposed to avoid notice; (`blate' is a Scottish term for bashful)
- they considered themselves a tough outfit and weren't bashful about letting anybody know it
- self-consciously timid; lowering my head, I looked at the wall"- Ezra Pound
- I never laughed, being bashful