be unwilling to do something

  • 21cling to something — ˈcling to sth | ˌcling ˈon to sth derived to be unwilling to get rid of sth, or stop doing sth • Throughout the trial she had clung to the belief that he was innocent. • He had one last hope to cling on to. • She managed to cling on to life for… …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 22cling on to something — ˈcling to sth | ˌcling ˈon to sth derived to be unwilling to get rid of sth, or stop doing sth • Throughout the trial she had clung to the belief that he was innocent. • He had one last hope to cling on to. • She managed to cling on to life for… …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 23fight shy of of doing something — fight ˈshy of sth/of doing sth f20 idiom to be unwilling to accept sth or do sth, and to try to avoid it • Successive governments have fought shy of such measures. Main entry: ↑fightidiom …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 24stoop so low (as to do something) — stoop so ˈlow (as to do sth) idiom (formal) to drop your moral standards far enough to do sth bad or unpleasant • She was unwilling to believe anyone would stoop so low as to steal a ring from a dead woman s finger. Main entry: ↑stoopidiom …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 25stop short of of doing something — stop short of sth/of doing sth idiom to be unwilling to do sth because it may involve a risk, but to nearly do it • She stopped short of calling the president a liar. • The protest stopped short of a violent confrontation. Main entry: ↑stopidiom …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 26hold — hold1 W1S1 [həuld US hould] v past tense and past participle held [held] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(in your hand/arms)¦ 2¦(event)¦ 3¦(keep something in position)¦ 4¦(job/title)¦ 5¦(keep/store)¦ 6¦(keep something available for somebody)¦ 7¦(keep somebody… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 27shy — shy1 [ʃaı] adj comparative shyer superlative shyest [: Old English; Origin: sceoh] 1.) nervous and embarrassed about meeting and speaking to other people, especially people you do not know ▪ He was a quiet, shy man. shy with ▪ She was very shy… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 28shy — 1 (I) adjective 1 nervous and embarrassed about talking to other people, especially people you do not know: Billy s very shy with adults, but he s fine with other children. | a shy smile | painfully shy (=extremely shy): At 15, I was painfully… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 29hold — 1 verb past tense and past participle held IN YOUR HANDS/ARMS 1 a) (T) to have something firmly in your hand or arms: He was holding a knife in one hand. | Can you hold the groceries for me while I open the door? | I held the baby in my arms. |… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 30draw — 1 verb past tense drew, past participle drawn PICTURE/DESCRIPTION 1 WITH PENCIL (I, T) to make a picture of something with a pencil or pen: Can I draw your portrait? | I ve never been able to draw well. | draw sb sth/draw sth for sb: Hans drew… …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English