| 单词 | coy |
| 释义 | coy (once / 2112 pages) adj Take the adjective coy for a person who pretends to be shy but really isn't, or someone who could give a definite answer but won't. Coy behavior can be playful or just plain annoying. Originally meaning "quiet and shy," today someone who is coy pretends to be shy in a playful manner — often as a form of flirting. If a politician is coy about something, he or she only gives vague statements on an issue for fear of committing to a position or angering his or her constituency. Common to both of these senses is the fact that a person uses coyness to subtly manipulate his or her audience. WORD FAMILYcoy: coily, coyer, coyest, coyly, coyness+/coyness: coynesses USAGE EXAMPLESSome of them struck me as coy and wide-eyed. The New Yorker(Dec 31, 2016) Intelligence agencies are coy about exact figures, but an average operation on just one person might require anything from 25 to 40 people. The Guardian(Dec 22, 2016) “One of the things that really strikes me about American art is that it’s often overwhelmed with this coy, joking, ironic tone,” Leigh says. Los Angeles Times(Dec 15, 2016) 1adj affectedly modest or shy especially in a playful or provocative way Syn demure, overmodest modest not offensive to sexual mores in conduct or appearance 2adj showing marked and often playful or irritating evasiveness or reluctance to make a definite or committing statement a politician coy about his intentions Syn indefinite vague or not clearly defined or stated 3adj modestly or warily rejecting approaches or overtures like a wild young colt, very inquisitive but very coy and not to be easily cajoled Syn timid showing fear and lack of confidence |
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