1.
to shrink back; to flinch; to hunch one's body
To physically make oneself smaller, either from cold, fear, or an instinctive reaction to something startling or threatening.
寒さに身をすくめた。
I huddled up against the cold.
雷の音に身をすくめる。
To flinch at the sound of thunder.
子供たちは怒鳴り声を聞いて身をすくめた。
The children shrank back when they heard the shouting.
A set phrase combining 身 (body) with すくめる (to make shrink, to draw in). Describes an involuntary physical reaction — making oneself smaller or cringing. Used for reactions to cold, fear, surprise, or intimidation. The related intransitive form is 身がすくむ (one's body freezes up).
COMMON TRIGGERS:
- 寒さに: from the cold
- 恐怖で: from fear
- 雷に: at thunder
- 怒鳴り声に: at a shout
RELATED EXPRESSIONS:
- 身がすくむ: one's body freezes up — intransitive; emphasizes the involuntary paralysis from fear
- 肩をすくめる: to shrug one's shoulders — a different gesture; expresses indifference or "I don't know"
- 身を縮める: to make oneself small — similar meaning, more about physically shrinking to avoid attention or cold