coy

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coy /k'ɔɪ/
1 [ADJ]
A coy person is shy, or pretends to be shy, about love and sex.
She is modest without being coy...
● coyly [ADV] ADV with v
She smiled coyly at Algie as he took her hand and raised it to his lips.
2 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ about n
If someone is being coy, they are unwilling to talk about something that they feel guilty or embarrassed about.
Mr Alexander is not the slightest bit coy about his ambitions.
= reticent
● coyly [ADV] ADV with v
The administration coyly refused to put a firm figure on the war's costs.

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