To avoid someone or something. I shy away from confrontation because I just don't like conflict.Are you mad at me? You've been shying away from me all day.
shy away (from someone or something)
to avoid someone or something. The dog shies away from John since he kicked it. I can understand why the dog would shy away.
shy away from
Avoid, evade, as in He shied away from all questions concerning his private life. [Late 1700s]
shy away
v.
1. To retreat out of a sense of shyness: The deer poked its head out from the bushes and then shied away when it saw me.
2. To avoid doing something, especially out of caution or anxiety: The company shied away from giving raises this year.