Make Your Point, Jr. > Words in ABC Order > quail

Study the word QUAIL: (Source) A quail is a kind of bird. (Source) And, unrelated to the bird, there's a verb, "to quail." When you quail, you jump a little, or shake a little, or move backward, as if you're afraid. Here, Rosanna quails, dropping her snack, because she's suddenly afraid or surprised. (Source) And even if you don't actually flinch or tremble or pull back, if you quail, that can also mean you lose your courage, as if you had been brave, but then you got too scared. This kiddo was pumped up and ready to go do something, but then he quailed and turned back. (Source) What makes you quail? I would quail if I saw a snake. I quail at the thought of having to give a speech to a huge audience. And when I see my daughter take off running across a hot stretch of hard concrete, I quail at the thought of her falling down and hurting herself. (Source) Usually it's people who quail. But your body can quail, and your voice can quail, meaning it shakes or trembles with fear. Even your heart or your spirit can quail, which can mean it shakes, it pulls back, or it stops being brave. My heart quails at the thought of jumping into an icy river. (Source)   Make a flash card: You can write your own definition and choose your own picture, or copy mine. Term Definition Picture quail to feel scared and pull away or shake   Write your own sentence! You can use either of the two ideas I'll suggest, or you can invent your own. Include as much detail as you can! (Source)   Write a sentence with the word QUAIL: Remember: when things or people quail, they're so scared or nervous that they shake or pull away. Idea 1: "I can easily (do something scary or difficult), but I quail at the thought of (doing something very, very scary or difficult)." Idea 2: "In (some story or show), (someone's) heart must have quailed when (something terrible or frightening happened)." You can type in here. When you're done, copy and paste your sentence wherever you'd like it to go.