Shrink to think

[Alan]

Hi Alex,

I always find it very difficult to assess the extent to which a word/phrase is or isn't used in the UK. I would imagine that it would be understood here quite readily but could well be regarded as somewhat old fashioned in the sense of 21st century coinage. But at the same time as an expression it's not a million miles from the use of 'shrink' in the sense of recoil from doing something/ be very unwilling to do something as in: Most people would shrink from actually killing a chicken by wringing its neck.

That's the best I can come up with.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Nangueve]

Hi Alan,
Being honest i could not understand a thing. How can i use this( shrink to think), is it like let me think or i don't know or i'm curious.

Regards,
Julieta

[Torsten]

Hi Julieta,

Which part of Alan's explanations did you not understand? What about I daren't think? I mean, do you understand the expression "I daren't think"? It basically means, "I'm afraid of even thinking about it".
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Alan]

Hi Nangueve,

I'm sorry you don't understand the explanations for this expression. Looking back on the answers already given I can't see there is any other way of explaining it.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
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[Cutefish]

hi Alan
what does "to have a bad back" mean?
thanx

[Torsten]

Hi Cutefish,

If you have a 'bad back' your back hurts.

Hope you don't have a bad back?
Regards,
Torsten
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Lost_Soul]

[MrPedantic]

Hello Alex,

I'm not familiar with "I shrink to think", in BrE; if I heard it, I would take it as a humorous, personal variant on "I shudder to think".

(By the way, I can't find those 500 occurrences online – only seven or eight!)

Best wishes,

MrP

[Macombo]

Hi Alan,

I was trying to understand what does shrink mean, but I failed. Please, explain me the meaning of this word. For me the word is so stranger how came.

Tchau,
Macombo

[Torsten]

Hi Macombo,

Many thanks for your question. Could you be please a bit more specific? What exactly is that you don't understand? Alan has already explained the phrase 'I shrink to think' several times. Have you read those explanations? If so, what parts did you or did you not understand? Please read the explanation again: I shrink to think.

I look forward to reading your answers.
Best regards,
Torsten Daerr
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Yankee]

Hi Macombo

Here are two commonly used expressions -- ones that are familiar to me:

- "shrink from something" or "shrink from doing something"
This means you avoid something (or refrain from doing something) that is unpleasant or difficult. "Shrink from" can also mean to instinctively draw back or recoil from something frightening or alarming, for example.

- "I shudder to think"
This expression can be used when you are anxious about something unpleasant that might happen or might have happened. This expression could have been used in this test.

.
The expression "I shrink to think" is not something I hear people use.
.

[Nzanywayingoma]

those expressions are known for all the Amercans?

[Yankee]

Hi Nzanywayingoma

[Torsten]

Hi Amy, what do you make of the following sentence: "But then again... back to reality. I’m not always that daring, and I shrink to think of others judging me based on my imperfections." Did the author mix two separate expressions and if so why did she do that?
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Test Of English for International Communication
TOEIC Preparation & TOEIC Vocabulary

[Yankee]

Hi Torsten

Do you see any problem in being honest about the fact that the expression used in the test is not one that is commonly used? As I said, it seems to be some sort of mix of two separate commonly used collocations. Do you see any problem in making learners aware of collocations that are commonly used? Or do you feel this sort of related information should be hidden from them?

Do you think learners should ever be told that a particular usage is wrong when, in fact, it is widely used in North America? Do you think that widespread North American usages should be hidden from learners for some reason?

.