afraid of one's own shadow

Very timid and fearful, as in Richard constantly worries about security; he's afraid of his own shadow. This hyperbole has been used in English since the early 1500s, and some writers believe it originated in ancient Greece.

Common Names:

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Mariko	mah-ṙee-ko	Japanese
BlÁThnat	BLAW-nit	Irish, Irish Mythology
Olena	-	Ukrainian
Marnie	['ma:ni]
Iker	-	Basque
Sherill	SHER-əl	English (Rare)