a shrinking violet
A very shy and timid person who avoids attention.
Example: She's no shrinking violet when it comes to public speaking.
C222 words · Proficient
People & Character vocabulary — C2
People and character idioms for precise, often critical descriptions, with phrases like a paper tiger, a stuffed shirt and a curmudgeon.
22 questions
Words in this set
22a glutton for punishment
Someone who repeatedly chooses difficult or unpleasant tasks, seemingly for no reason.
Example:
He signed up for another marathon — he's a glutton for punishment.
a paper tiger
Someone or something that appears powerful or threatening but is actually weak.
Example:
The rival company turned out to be a paper tiger with no real market share.
a stick in the mud
A person who resists change or new ideas and is seen as dull or old-fashioned.
Example:
Don't be a stick in the mud — come and try the new restaurant with us.
an armchair critic
Someone who freely judges decisions or performances without any direct experience of doing the task themselves.
Example:
It's easy to be an armchair critic when you've never coached a team.
a silver-tongued speaker
Someone remarkably persuasive and eloquent, able to charm others with words.
Example:
The lawyer was a silver-tongued speaker who rarely lost a case.
a Jekyll and Hyde
Someone who has two very different sides to their personality, one pleasant and one unpleasant.
Example:
He's a Jekyll and Hyde — charming at work, awful at home.
an also-ran
Someone who takes part in a competition but fails to succeed or be noticed.
Example:
He was just an also-ran in the leadership race.
a fair-weather friend
Someone who is only supportive of you when things are going well, not during difficulties.
Example:
He disappeared the moment I needed help — typical fair-weather friend.
a stuffed shirt
Someone who is very formal, pompous and old-fashioned, especially in a professional setting.
Example:
The new director is a bit of a stuffed shirt.
an eminence grise
Someone with great influence who stays out of sight.
Example:
There was an eminence grise behind every appointment.
a prima donna
Someone difficult who expects special treatment.
Example:
One a prima donna in a small team is one too many.
a philistine
Someone with no interest in art or culture.
Example:
He called himself a philistine and rather enjoyed it.
a curmudgeon
A bad-tempered older person who complains constantly.
Example:
The letters page is written by the same a curmudgeon every week.
a bon vivant
Someone who enjoys good food, drink and company.
Example:
He was a bon vivant and the accounts showed it.
a raconteur
Someone who tells stories entertainingly.
Example:
As a raconteur he had no equal and no editor.
a martinet
Someone who insists on very strict discipline.
Example:
The new head was a martinet and half the staff left.
a firebrand
Someone who stirs up strong feeling and trouble.
Example:
He arrived as a firebrand and left as a committee man.
a killjoy
Someone who spoils other people's enjoyment.
Example:
There is always a killjoy with a clipboard at these things.
a scaremonger
Someone who spreads alarming stories.
Example:
Every a scaremonger in the county had a view on the reservoir.
a doormat
Someone who lets others treat them badly.
Example:
He was a doormat at work and a tyrant at home.
a rolling stone
Someone who never settles in one place or job.
Example:
He was a rolling stone until the second child arrived.
