sheepishly

English

WOTD – 21 December 2007

Etymology

From sheepish +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /ˈʃiː.pɪʃ.li/

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (AU)

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Adverb

sheepishly (comparative more sheepishly, superlative most sheepishly)

1. In a sheepish way; meekly; self-consciously; with embarrassment.
   • 2017 January 19, Peter Bradshaw, “T2 Trainspotting review – choose a sequel that doesn't disappoint”, in the Guardian‎^[1]:

     Renton’s big mistake is sheepishly to offer Sick Boy his stolen share 20 years on: £4,000 in a crumpled brown envelope. “What am I supposed to buy with that?” rages Sick Boy bitterly later. “A time machine?”

Synonyms

• (meekly): abashedly, meekly, self-consciously, shyly, timidly, bashfully

Translations

in a sheepish way

• Finnish: lammasmaisesti (fi)
• Polish: z zakłopotaniem
• Russian: застенчиво (ru) (zastenčivo)