Why shrinking violet

The violet in this case isn't an imaginary diffident woman but a flower. As for the shrinking, we don't mean reducing in size but modestly recoiling.

The Viola family of flowers includes violets and pansies, which are polychrome extroverts that seem just the opposite of shy. Their colourfulness makes them a favourite of municipal plantsmen around the world and even the horticulturally challenged amongst you must have seen them adorning park flowerbeds and traffic islands.

However, the phrase 'shrinking violet' was coined in the UK before selective breeding turned the plants into images of steroidal blousiness. Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms The same, but different. Merriam-Webster's Words of the Week - Nov. Ask the Editors 'Everyday' vs. What Is 'Semantic Bleaching'?

How 'literally' can mean "figuratively". Literally How to use a word that literally drives some pe Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice? The awkward case of 'his or her'. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account. Notify me of new comments via email. Notify me of new posts via email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Email Address:. Follow HOTIdioms.

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