flinch

Object

• bit: And she flinches a tiny bit, as tho she's shocked - and then she just grabs my forearms and leans into it.
• man: The idea that this frightened, flinching man would oversee the necessary democratic revolution is preposterous.

Preposition: at

• prospect: But before you flinch at the prospect of TV diners and Angel Delight on the menu, fear not.
• thought: Hang on, that policeman's back, I'll have to put you in my lap... [ Small Talk flinches at thought.
• sound: My men are stout fellows not used to flinch at the sound of a round shot passing over their heads.

Adjective modifier

• involuntary: The slight involuntary flinch of her shoulders struck him with agonizing impact.

Modifying Another Word

• never: Military men who never flinched at the roar of rifles now shook at the prospect of facing the press.
• away: Why does the child appear to be flinching away from Oberon?
• even: Go on stick a knife in them I would even flinch.
• not: Britain would not flinch from its " historic struggle " in Iraq, Tony Blair has insisted.
• n't: Richards does n't flinch from showing murder most foul in all its grisly detail.
• back: Where you and I flinch back, she leaps forward.

Used with why or when

• whenever: She had also stopped flinching whenever I passed and sniffed my fingers through the wire rather than attacking them.

Preposition: in

• face: We do not flinch in the face of any difficulties.
• fear: When you realize what'message ' we are sending the cat it is little wonder that the cat flinches in fear.
• war: The Conservative Party will never flinch in that war.

Preposition: from

• life: John Steinbeck never flinches away from life he takes it fully into his novels without becoming gratuitous in any way.