Baulk
verb
To hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.
She balked at the idea of spending her holidays with her in-laws.
Often appears as...
- balk at the idea
- balk at the thought
verb
To suddenly stop or change direction from unexpected fear or shock.
The horse balked and would not jump the fence.
Often appears as...
- horse balks
- balk at the sight
noun
A strip of wood used in construction.
I nailed the baulk to the wall for extra support.
Often appears as...
- baulk of timber
- heavy baulk
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To prevent or obstruct.
His attempt to escape was balked by the guards.
Often appears as...
- balk the attempt
- balk the progress
noun
A missed opportunity from hesitation.
His jitters caused a baulk in the final moment.
Often appears as...
- baulk at the final moment
- disgusting baulk
verb
To hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.
She balked at the idea of spending her holidays with her in-laws.
Often appears as...
- balk at the idea
- balk at the thought
verb
To suddenly stop or change direction from unexpected fear or shock.
The horse balked and would not jump the fence.
Often appears as...
- horse balks
- balk at the sight
noun
A strip of wood used in construction.
I nailed the baulk to the wall for extra support.
Often appears as...
- baulk of timber
- heavy baulk
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To prevent or obstruct.
His attempt to escape was balked by the guards.
Often appears as...
- balk the attempt
- balk the progress
noun
A missed opportunity from hesitation.
His jitters caused a baulk in the final moment.
Often appears as...
- baulk at the final moment
- disgusting baulk
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/2Emotional Hesitation
Use 'baulk' to express a strong emotional reluctance or aversion to something.
I always baulk at having to work overtime with him.
Pro Tip 2/2Negative Connotation
'Baulk' often implies a negative reaction or a setback in discussions and plans.
Participants baulked at the project's high costs.
Pro Tip 1/2Emotional Hesitation
Use 'baulk' to express a strong emotional reluctance or aversion to something.
I always baulk at having to work overtime with him.
Pro Tip 2/2Negative Connotation
'Baulk' often implies a negative reaction or a setback in discussions and plans.
Participants baulked at the project's high costs.
Pro Tip 1/2Emotional Hesitation
Use 'baulk' to express a strong emotional reluctance or aversion to something.
I always baulk at having to work overtime with him.
Pro Tip 2/2Negative Connotation
'Baulk' often implies a negative reaction or a setback in discussions and plans.
Participants baulked at the project's high costs.
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Video examples
Why should you read...
she redeems an insufferable grandmother for forgiving a hardened criminal, even as he closes in on her family. Though we might balk at the price the woman pays for this redemption, we’re forced to confront the nuance in moments we might otherwise consider purely violent or evil. O’Connor’s mastery of the grotesque
Video examples
Megan Kamerick: Women...
unconscious bias flows throughout most of our lives. It's really difficult to disentangle those strands. But he did have one suggestion. He used to work for two editors who said every story had to have at least one female source. He balked at first,
Video examples
Why should you read...
she redeems an insufferable grandmother for forgiving a hardened criminal, even as he closes in on her family. Though we might balk at the price the woman pays for this redemption, we’re forced to confront the nuance in moments we might otherwise consider purely violent or evil. O’Connor’s mastery of the grotesque
Video examples
Megan Kamerick: Women...
unconscious bias flows throughout most of our lives. It's really difficult to disentangle those strands. But he did have one suggestion. He used to work for two editors who said every story had to have at least one female source. He balked at first,
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Gina Prince-Bythewood
American Director
Beyond the Lights' took incredible fight to get made. Four years of writing and two years of overcoming 'no.' Every studio balked. Twice. But I kept fighting. What gave me the courage was 'Love & Basketball.' Every studio turned down that film, too. But I never gave up because I believed in it with my whole heart and soul.
Quote examples
Frank Deford
American Writer
Once again it is peaceful at Augusta National Golf Club, after some rather ugly stand-offs in recent years, when the club balked at changing its all-white, all-male membership tradition. African-Americans and female Americans are on the club manifest now along with other golf-Americans, and all is serene once again.
Quote examples
Robert Carlyle
Scottish Director
A lot of the characters I play have problems, they are marginalised, they have serious psychological problems, problems with relationships, with childhood. These are big subjects, big subjects. You can't balk at work like that. As an actor, that's as good as it gets.
Quote examples
Anne Tyler
American Novelist
I can never tell ahead of time which book will give me trouble - some balk every step of the way, others seem to write themselves - but certainly the mechanics of writing, finding the time and the psychic space, are easier now that my children are grown.
Quote examples
Wislawa Szymborska
Polish Poet
I have sympathy for young people, for their growing pains, but I balk when these growing pains are pushed into the foreground, when you make these young people the only vehicles of life's wisdom.
Quote examples
Alex Comfort
American Author
There are only two guidelines in good sex, don't do anything you don't really enjoy and find out what are your partner needs and don't balk them if you can help it.
Quote examples
Autre Ne Veut
American Musician
There's a certain type of indie fan who would balk at the prospect of there being value in pop music, but I think that's foolish. They're not really listening.
Quote examples
Jackie Kennedy
American First Lady
I don't understand it. Jack will spend any amount of money to buy votes but he balks at investing a thousand dollars in a beautiful painting.
Quote examples
Sara Cox
English Entertainer
Women need to be treated equally as men, but there are issues with the term feminist and people balk at that.
Quote examples
Sun Tzu
Chinese Philosopher
Balk the enemy's power; force him to reveal himself.
Quote examples
Gina Prince-Bythewood
American Director
Beyond the Lights' took incredible fight to get made. Four years of writing and two years of overcoming 'no.' Every studio balked. Twice. But I kept fighting. What gave me the courage was 'Love & Basketball.' Every studio turned down that film, too. But I never gave up because I believed in it with my whole heart and soul.
Quote examples
Frank Deford
American Writer
Once again it is peaceful at Augusta National Golf Club, after some rather ugly stand-offs in recent years, when the club balked at changing its all-white, all-male membership tradition. African-Americans and female Americans are on the club manifest now along with other golf-Americans, and all is serene once again.
Quote examples
Robert Carlyle
Scottish Director
A lot of the characters I play have problems, they are marginalised, they have serious psychological problems, problems with relationships, with childhood. These are big subjects, big subjects. You can't balk at work like that. As an actor, that's as good as it gets.
Quote examples
Anne Tyler
American Novelist
I can never tell ahead of time which book will give me trouble - some balk every step of the way, others seem to write themselves - but certainly the mechanics of writing, finding the time and the psychic space, are easier now that my children are grown.
Quote examples
Wislawa Szymborska
Polish Poet
I have sympathy for young people, for their growing pains, but I balk when these growing pains are pushed into the foreground, when you make these young people the only vehicles of life's wisdom.
Quote examples
Alex Comfort
American Author
There are only two guidelines in good sex, don't do anything you don't really enjoy and find out what are your partner needs and don't balk them if you can help it.
Quote examples
Autre Ne Veut
American Musician
There's a certain type of indie fan who would balk at the prospect of there being value in pop music, but I think that's foolish. They're not really listening.
Quote examples
Jackie Kennedy
American First Lady
I don't understand it. Jack will spend any amount of money to buy votes but he balks at investing a thousand dollars in a beautiful painting.
Quote examples
Sara Cox
English Entertainer
Women need to be treated equally as men, but there are issues with the term feminist and people balk at that.
Quote examples
Sun Tzu
Chinese Philosopher
Balk the enemy's power; force him to reveal himself.
Example 1 of 10
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