as in: sheered to the left Define
change direction abruptly; or to cause such a change of direction
- I sheered her well inshore—the water being deepest near the bank, as the sounding-pole informed me.
- The boat sheered to port to avoid a collision.
- They argued that the ship’s sudden sheer caused the collision.
- They swore aloud together—out of sheer fright, I believe—then pretending not to know anything of my existence, turned back to the station.
- Of course, a fool, what with sheer fright and fine sentiments, is always safe.
- The sheer unexpectedness of it made my hair stir under my cap.
- My dear boys, what can you expect from a man who out of sheer nervousness had just flung overboard a pair of new shoes.
- The thin smoke had blown away, we were clear of the snag, and looking ahead I could see that in another hundred yards or so I would be free to sheer off, away from the bank; but my feet felt so very warm and wet that I had to look down.
- The fact is I was completely unnerved by a sheer blank fright, pure abstract terror, unconnected with any distinct shape of physical danger.
There are no more uses of "sheer" identified with this meaning, but check unspecified meaning below.
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To see samples from other sources, click a word sense below:
as in: a sheer blouse Define
typically of fabric: very thin and delicate -- often transparent
as in: sheer fun
Define
complete or pure -- without restriction, qualification, or other elements (used for emphasis)
as in: a sheer cliff
Define
so steep it is almost vertical
as in: sheered to the left
Define
change direction abruptly; or to cause such a change of direction
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