2007-07-02 10:29:38 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
you are unable to pull the trigger...not literally..but you don't go for it..
2007-07-09 12:52:08 · answer #1 · answered by Felix 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The origin of gun shy comes from horses and dogs--when a cavalry horse or a hunting dog was too afraid of the sound of a gun to be trained, that horse or dog was declared gun shy. But the meaning doesn't stop there.
The term has developed to mean someone who is fearful. A bachelor who is afraid of marriage; a debutante who is afraid of boys. Someone who is gun shy is of the "once burned twice shy" brand of distrustful hesitation and fear. It is like that saying that if you fall off the horse, to get right back on. If you DON't, you become gunshy.
2007-07-06 19:10:46 · answer #2 · answered by maî 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Gun shy was the term used when a horse would pull up short and try to turn from the sound of the guns in the calvary. It is most often used now for a person who has had a bad experience and is afraid to try it again.
2007-07-02 10:35:13 · answer #3 · answered by elcid812 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The term "Gun shy" is used today primarily to describe someone who has had a negative experience and is hesitant about trying again.
"His first attempt to start a business was a disaster; now he is a bit gun shy about being an entrepreneur."
The acutal term refered oringially to animals such as horses and dogs. They were not afraid of fire arms at all until someone fired one off. The loud report frighened them and just seeing a gun would make them shy away from it. For horses and dogs used for hunting, training them not to be gun shy was important for them to be useful.
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2007-07-09 01:15:24 · answer #4 · answered by Jacob W 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gun Shy means, now" to be afraid .
2007-07-07 14:04:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like in a dog being gun shy??
2007-07-02 10:34:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Afraid to commit (probably due to a previous bad experience)
See also: once bitten, twice shy
2007-07-02 10:33:59 · answer #7 · answered by nvr10pts 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means "frightened by the sound of a gun shot", or "hesitant, wary, or distrustful, especially because of a previous unpleasant experience".
2007-07-02 10:33:03 · answer #8 · answered by bensbabe 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
It means afraid of guns.
2007-07-02 10:33:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
It means you want to do something, but you don't have the guts or you can't quite pull it off. You can almost do something, but you can't finish it (can't "pull the trigger")
2007-07-02 10:38:07 · answer #10 · answered by EllisFan 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
quite simple. doesnt like guns or being around them or shooting them.
2007-07-10 09:54:04 · answer #11 · answered by chuckguy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋