was shy of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was shy of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone or something is lacking a certain amount or is just short of a particular quantity or standard. Example: "She was shy of the required number of votes to win the election."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

Ask about her shyness and she'll point to her portrait of Lucian Freud – "extremely nice, I was shy of him, and I think he was shy of me".

The Guardian - Arts

That was shy of Wall Street's estimates of revenue of $2.2 billion.

The New York Times

But a forecast of revenues of $2bn to $2.1bn in 2016 was shy of expectations.

The Guardian - Business

He had wanted to include Matsui but the architect was "shy of publicity and will not be interviewed".

The New York Times

Greene's time was shy of his world record of 9.79, but placed him well ahead of his competition.

The New York Times - Sports

The export growth was shy of economists' expectations for a 21 percent rise, while the imports came in faster than the consensus expectation of 22.5 percent.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

"I'm shy of the camera".

The New Yorker

But don't be shy of asking people their views.

The Economist

But he has been shy of making commitments.

The Economist

Not that he's shy of big events.

The Guardian - Books

"People were shy of upsetting the record companies," he says.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was shy of" to indicate a specific, often quantifiable, deficiency or a demonstrated reluctance or timidity. For instance, "The company's revenue was shy of expectations" or "He was shy of the camera".

Common error

Avoid using "was shy of" to describe a general lack of something. Reserve it for situations where there's a specific target or expectation that wasn't quite met. For general deficiencies, use alternatives like "lacked" or "was deficient in".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was shy of" functions as a copular verb followed by an adjective and a preposition. It typically describes a state of being just below a certain amount or standard, indicating a deficiency or a slight lack.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was shy of" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression indicating that something fell slightly short of a desired amount or expectation. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedic content. While versatile, it's best used when referring to specific, quantifiable targets rather than general deficiencies. Alternatives such as "fell short of" or "didn't quite reach" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. The prevalence of this phrase in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian underscores its reliability and appropriateness in professional and academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fell short of

Indicates a failure to reach a required or expected standard or amount.

didn't quite reach

Suggests a near miss, indicating something almost attained but not fully achieved.

lacked

Emphasizes the absence of something needed or desired.

was lacking in

Highlights a deficiency in a particular quality or quantity.

was deficient in

Focuses on the inadequacy or incompleteness of something.

was hesitant about

Conveys a sense of reluctance or unwillingness due to nervousness or uncertainty.

was reticent about

Indicates a disinclination to speak freely, often due to shyness or discretion.

was reluctant to

Suggests unwillingness or disinclination to do something.

avoided

Implies a deliberate effort to stay away from something or someone.

evinced a reluctance towards

Highlights exhibiting an opposition to perform an action

FAQs

How to use "was shy of" in a sentence?

Use "was shy of" to indicate that something or someone didn't quite reach a specific amount or standard. For example: "The final count "was shy of" the required votes."

What can I say instead of "was shy of" when referring to a specific number?

Alternatives include "fell short of", "didn't quite reach", or "was under", depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to use "was shy of"?

Yes, the phrase "was shy of" is grammatically correct and commonly used to indicate a slight deficiency or a reluctance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.

What's the difference between "was shy of" and "lacked"?

"Was shy of" typically implies a near miss, while "lacked" suggests a more general absence. For example, "The budget "was shy of" the target by $1000" indicates it almost reached the goal. "The project lacked funding" indicates a more general deficiency.