Preposition: at

• stump: Pietersen has a shy at the stumps, but misses with the Australian just about making his ground.

Modifies a noun

• creature: The Sinai rips the facade off - the shy creature can become the leader.

• smile: Behind her, with a shy smile, Aura tapped her shoulder.

• lad: I blame bad man management of a shy lad.

• teenager: I was a shy, frightened teenager for a long time.

• girl: A shy, quiet girl stands in front of a sea of people.

• bird: From a hide overlooking the Giant Petrel colony on the beach, we should have good views of these somewhat shy birds.

Modifying Another Word

• painfully: Some people say he's painfully shy, others think he's arrogant.

• away: He also doesn't shy away from his topics.

• twice: The main crux of my problem is the usual once bitten twice shy thing.

Followed by an intransitive particle

• away: Her eyes gaze out on the scene, but shy away from the dancing figures toward the shadow.

Infinitive complement

• ask: Ask for help: if there are others around you do not be shy to ask for their assistance.

• talk: Many people are too shy to talk in front of others, so lose out on vital practice.

Used with adjective complement

• fight: They indeed seem to fight shy of the words ' intellectual ' , ' cognitive ' or ' cerebral ' .

• bite: What was that about being once bitten twice shy?

• feel: I don't think anyone would feel shy about bringing anything forward.

Preposition: with

• stranger: It tends to be friendly and can be very showy in the ring as it is not shy with strangers.