"Shy"

[WZ]

Is "shy" appropiate here: "The dog is very (...). He runs away whenever he sees a stranger."
What otherwords can I use? Is "timid" OK here?

And besides "shy", what are other words (meaning "easily scared", "not brave"...) that can fit in these blanks:
- The boy was very (...). He hid behind his mother when the man gave him an apple.
- That cat is very (...). It runs away when it hears a loud noise.

Please help.
Thanks.

[oishii]

Hi WZ,

Is "shy" appropiate here: "The dog is very (...). He runs away whenever he sees a stranger."


Yes, "shy" is perhaps the best word to use here.

"Shy" as an adjective is often used to describe an animal that is easily frightened away, startled or reluctant.
"Shy" can also be used as a verb and is often used to also refer to animal's behaviour (mostly horses).

shy: intr.v.To move suddenly, as if startled; start.
To draw back, as from fear or caution; recoil.



What otherwords can I use? Is "timid" OK here?

Yes, I think 'timid' is fine there as well.

And besides "shy", what are other words (meaning "easily scared", "not brave"...) that can fit in these blanks:
- The boy was very (...). He hid behind his mother when the man gave him an apple.
- That cat is very (...). It runs away when it hears a loud noise.
.

For the boy, I would suggest the word 'bashful' (usually used to refer to people and not animals), and for the cat, I would consider the word 'coward' (definition: lacking courage; very fearful or timid.)

Here is a citation from a dictionary that lists various synonyms for shy and the appropriate situations in which to use them.


Synonyms: shy, bashful, diffident, modest, coy, demure
These adjectives mean not forward but marked by a retiring nature, reticence, or a reserve of manner. One who is shy draws back from others, either because of a withdrawn nature or out of timidity: “The poor man was shy and hated society” (George Bernard Shaw). Bashful suggests self-consciousness or awkwardness in the presence of others: “I never laughed, being bashful./Lowering my head, I looked at the wall” (Ezra Pound). Diffident implies lack of self-confidence: He was too diffident to express his opinion. Modest is associated with an unassertive nature and absence of vanity or pretension: Despite her fame she remained a modest, unassuming person. Coy usually implies feigned, often flirtatious shyness: “yielded with coy submission” (John Milton). Demure often denotes an affected shyness or modesty: Her assistant nodded in agreement, flashing a demure smile.

Source (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/shy)

.

[Rusty]

Oishii's answer is so thorough that I hesitate to add more. However, the cat question reminds me of my neighbor's cat. It runs away when it sees me. I wouldn't call it cowardly, but it is definitely skittish.

[danmahaffey]

Jumpy also works. Here's a saying, nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Does any non-native speaker want to try interpreting this (funny) saying?