gunshy

• gun shy, gun-shy

From gun +‎ shy.

• IPA^(key): /ɡʌn.ʃaɪ/

gunshy (comparative more gunshy, superlative most gunshy)

1. Afraid to use a gun.
2. Frightened by the sound of gunfire.
   • 2007, Paul Long, Training Pointing Dogs, 2nd edition, page 38:

     But very few dogs become gunshy if they are introduced to the bang while they are overcome with the delight of chasing game, particularly if the trainer begins with a light noise and works up to louder noises in easy stages

3. (figurative) Fearing the consequences of repeating an act, especially after being reprimanded.

   After his last suggestion was laughed at by his colleagues, he was gunshy about making another suggestion.

   • 2013, Ben Yagoda, How to Not Write Bad: The Most Common Writing Problems and the Best Ways to Avoid Them‎, Penguin, →ISBN:

     However, some people are gun-shy about like and engage in the hoity toity lingo that's called “hypercorrection.”

   • 2018, Mark Oliver Everett (lyrics and music), “There I Said It”, in The Deconstruction, performed by Eeels:

     You're gun shy / So am I / I understand with what you've been through

• once bitten, twice shy