To draw away involuntarily, usually out of fear or disgust

• wince

  1. To shrink or start involuntarily, as in pain or distress; flinch.
  2. A shrinking or startled movement or gesture.

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  1. To shrink or start involuntarily, as in pain or distress; flinch.
  2. A shrinking or startled movement or gesture.

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• start

  1. To begin a movement, activity, or undertaking:
  2. To move on the initial part of a journey:
  3. To have a beginning; commence:

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  1. To begin a movement, activity, or undertaking:
  2. To move on the initial part of a journey:
  3. To have a beginning; commence:

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• shy

  1. Easily startled; timid:
  2. Tending to avoid contact or familiarity with others; retiring or reserved:
  3. Characterized by reserve or diffidence:

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  1. Easily startled; timid:
  2. Tending to avoid contact or familiarity with others; retiring or reserved:
  3. Characterized by reserve or diffidence:

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• shrink

  1. To become or appear to become smaller:
  2. To become smaller from exposure to heat, moisture, or cold:
  3. To become reduced in amount or value; dwindle:

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  1. To become or appear to become smaller:
  2. To become smaller from exposure to heat, moisture, or cold:
  3. To become reduced in amount or value; dwindle:

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• recoil

  1. To spring back, as upon firing.
  2. To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.
  3. To fall back; return:

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  1. To spring back, as upon firing.
  2. To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.
  3. To fall back; return:

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• quail

  1. Any of various primarily ground-dwelling birds of the genus Coturnix, especially C. coturnix, small in size and having mottled brown plumage and a short tail.
  2. Any of various similar or related birds of the Americas, such as the bobwhite or the California quail.

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  1. Any of various primarily ground-dwelling birds of the genus Coturnix, especially C. coturnix, small in size and having mottled brown plumage and a short tail.
  2. Any of various similar or related birds of the Americas, such as the bobwhite or the California quail.

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• flinch

  1. To start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.
  2. To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.
  3. An act or instance of starting, wincing, or recoiling.

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  1. To start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.
  2. To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.
  3. An act or instance of starting, wincing, or recoiling.

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• blench

  1. To draw back or shy away, as from fear; flinch.

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  1. To draw back or shy away, as from fear; flinch.

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To support slavishly every opinion or suggestion of a superior

• suck up

  1. A person who flatters or defers to others obsequiously; a sycophant.

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  1. A person who flatters or defers to others obsequiously; a sycophant.

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• cotton

  1. Any of various shrubby plants of the genus Gossypium, having showy flowers and grown for the soft white downy fibers surrounding oil-rich seeds.
  2. The fiber of any of these plants, used in making textiles and other products.
  3. Thread or cloth manufactured from the fiber of these plants.

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  1. Any of various shrubby plants of the genus Gossypium, having showy flowers and grown for the soft white downy fibers surrounding oil-rich seeds.
  2. The fiber of any of these plants, used in making textiles and other products.
  3. Thread or cloth manufactured from the fiber of these plants.

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• brownnose

  1. To curry favor with in an obsequious manner; fawn on.

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  1. To curry favor with in an obsequious manner; fawn on.

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• apple-polish

  1. (US) To attempt to obtain favors, especially by flattery; to toady or fawn

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  1. (US) To attempt to obtain favors, especially by flattery; to toady or fawn

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• truckle

  1. A small wheel or roller; a caster.
  2. To be servile or submissive.

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  1. A small wheel or roller; a caster.
  2. To be servile or submissive.

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• toady

  1. A person who flatters or defers to others for self-serving reasons; a sycophant.
  2. To be a toady to or behave like a toady.

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  1. A person who flatters or defers to others for self-serving reasons; a sycophant.
  2. To be a toady to or behave like a toady.

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• slaver

  1. To slobber; drool.
  2. To behave in an obsequious manner.
  3. Saliva drooling from the mouth.

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  1. To slobber; drool.
  2. To behave in an obsequious manner.
  3. Saliva drooling from the mouth.

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• kowtow

  1. To kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in expression of deep respect, worship, or submission, as formerly done in China.
  2. To show servile deference.
  3. The act of kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground.

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  1. To kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in expression of deep respect, worship, or submission, as formerly done in China.
  2. To show servile deference.
  3. The act of kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground.

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• grovel

  1. To behave in a servile or obsequious manner.
  2. To lie or creep in a prostrate position, as in subservience or humility.
  3. To give oneself over to base pleasures:

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  1. To behave in a servile or obsequious manner.
  2. To lie or creep in a prostrate position, as in subservience or humility.
  3. To give oneself over to base pleasures:

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• fawn

  1. To exhibit affection or attempt to please, as a dog does by wagging its tail, whining, or cringing.
  2. To seek favor or attention by flattery and obsequious behavior.

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  1. To exhibit affection or attempt to please, as a dog does by wagging its tail, whining, or cringing.
  2. To seek favor or attention by flattery and obsequious behavior.

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• bootlick

  1. To behave like a sycophant toward (someone) or behave like a sycophant.

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  1. To behave like a sycophant toward (someone) or behave like a sycophant.

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An act of drawing back in an involuntary or instinctive fashion

• wince

  1. To shrink or start involuntarily, as in pain or distress; flinch.
  2. A shrinking or startled movement or gesture.

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  1. To shrink or start involuntarily, as in pain or distress; flinch.
  2. A shrinking or startled movement or gesture.

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• shrink

  1. To become or appear to become smaller:
  2. To become smaller from exposure to heat, moisture, or cold:
  3. To become reduced in amount or value; dwindle:

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  1. To become or appear to become smaller:
  2. To become smaller from exposure to heat, moisture, or cold:
  3. To become reduced in amount or value; dwindle:

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• recoil

  1. To spring back, as upon firing.
  2. To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.
  3. To fall back; return:

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  1. To spring back, as upon firing.
  2. To shrink back, as in fear or repugnance.
  3. To fall back; return:

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• flinch

  1. To start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.
  2. To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.
  3. An act or instance of starting, wincing, or recoiling.

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  1. To start or wince involuntarily, as from surprise or pain.
  2. To recoil, as from something unpleasant or difficult; shrink.
  3. An act or instance of starting, wincing, or recoiling.

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