shrinking violet

American  

noun

1. a shy, modest, or self-effacing person.

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shrinking violet British  

noun

1. informal a shy person

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Etymology

Origin of shrinking violet

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

A telemetry nurse in Kansas City, Mo., Ms. Yap-Banago seemed shy, but she was no shrinking violet.

From New York Times

Desperately hoping to move up the food chain at Culture, now called Cult, Anna, a classic shrinking violet with a short, natural ’fro, meets with Zora, equipped with stellar ideas and stats.

From Los Angeles Times

Now, they look not like shrinking violets but rather like leading men.

From Washington Post

But de Mello is no shrinking violet and knows that he’s there as an independent entity and isn’t afraid to say so to the press.

From Washington Times

The United States, though, is no shrinking violet and has lobbed back its fair share of insults and innuendos.

From Fox News