shrink back; flinch; recoil in fright
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesverb
to shrink back; to recoil in fright; to flinch and move away
literaryA literary term describing an involuntary physical reaction to shock or fear, causing one to step or jump aside. Often used in classical or formal writing.
Hū忽
wén闻
jù巨
xiǎng响
，
lù路
rén人
jiē皆
bì避
yì易
dào道
cè侧
。
Upon hearing a sudden loud noise, all pedestrians shrank back to the side of the road.
Zhàn战
mǎ马
shòu受
jīng惊
，
bì避
yì易
shù数
lǐ里
。
The warhorse, startled, bolted and retreated for several miles.
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Měng猛
hǔ虎
chū出
lín林
，
bǎi百
shòu兽
bì避
yì易
。
When the fierce tiger emerged from the forest, all other beasts recoiled in fear.
Qí其
qì气
shì势
zhī之
shèng盛
，
lìng令
rén人
bù不
gǎn敢
bī逼
shì视
，
jiē皆
bì避
yì易
zhī之
。
His imposing aura was so powerful that people dared not look directly and all shrank back from him.