Shrew
noun
A tiny mammal with a long nose and small eyes, which is common in grassland and woodland habitats.
The small shrew scurries around at night, eating insects and worms
noun
A lady who is bossy, always complaining and quarrelling.
He married a shrew who always criticised him for not making enough money.
Often appears as...
- shrew of a wife
- marry a shrew
Usage tips
Disapproving
Literary
noun
A tiny mammal with a long nose and small eyes, which is common in grassland and woodland habitats.
The small shrew scurries around at night, eating insects and worms
noun
A lady who is bossy, always complaining and quarrelling.
He married a shrew who always criticised him for not making enough money.
Often appears as...
- shrew of a wife
- marry a shrew
Usage tips
Disapproving
Literary
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Natural Habitat
Shrews are often used to represent agility and quickness in nature-focused texts.
His movements were as quick as a shrew.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorical Use
In stories, a 'shrew' character may embody slyness or resourcefulness.
She was the shrew of the class, always finding clever solutions.
Pro Tip 3/3Not a Rodent
Remember, shrews resemble mice but are not rodents, a fact sometimes mentioned in scientific contexts.
Unlike rodents, shrews have a more varied diet.
Pro Tip 1/3Natural Habitat
Shrews are often used to represent agility and quickness in nature-focused texts.
His movements were as quick as a shrew.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorical Use
In stories, a 'shrew' character may embody slyness or resourcefulness.
She was the shrew of the class, always finding clever solutions.
Pro Tip 3/3Not a Rodent
Remember, shrews resemble mice but are not rodents, a fact sometimes mentioned in scientific contexts.
Unlike rodents, shrews have a more varied diet.
Pro Tip 1/3Natural Habitat
Shrews are often used to represent agility and quickness in nature-focused texts.
His movements were as quick as a shrew.
Pro Tip 2/3Metaphorical Use
In stories, a 'shrew' character may embody slyness or resourcefulness.
She was the shrew of the class, always finding clever solutions.
Pro Tip 3/3Not a Rodent
Remember, shrews resemble mice but are not rodents, a fact sometimes mentioned in scientific contexts.
Unlike rodents, shrews have a more varied diet.
Never forget "Shrew"
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Video examples
Why do women have...
A handful of species on Earth share a seemingly mysterious a menstrual cycle. We're one of the select few. Monkeys, apes, bats, humans, and possibly elephant shrews are the only mammals on Earth that menstruate. We also do it more than any other animal,
Video examples
Lifesaving Medicines...
there are two toxins which are in clinical trials for cancer one of them I mentioned it's coming from a shrew venom and I think it's from a very cancer and the second one is coming from a scorpion toxin where this toxin helps to deliver
Video examples
Burying Beetles PIPE...
shrew is run around like crazy for about a year and then fall over dead like this poor fella this shrew is no more it rests in peace or does it is this a death rattle or is the shrew actually you know coming back
Video examples
Cannibal Scorpions vs....
the Shrew poo-poos the stiff he wants a piece of that live scorpion which is why this segment is now called when truths attack scorpions the Scorpions venom could easily kill true but the shrew has the lightning
Video examples
Cannibal Scorpions vs....
enough to cause the live scorpion to abandon his booty and hide itself the shrew poo-poos the stiff he wants a piece of that live scorpion which is why this segment is now called when truths attack scorpion
Video examples
The Killer Rat with...
It was the water shrew. Yeah. Which has venomous saliva, which when it bites, it injects into its prey to stun it and to paralyse it. But I've got to say that venomous mammals are very, very rare
Video examples
Ferocious Shrews Fight...
developed caring for the young is a crucial part of the mammals winning design something few reptiles do a mother shrew will even quench her baby's thirst with her own saliva if necessary
Video examples
Burying Beetles PIPE...
a year and then fall over dead like this poor fella this shrew is no more it rests in peace or does it is this a death rattle or is the shrew actually you know coming back
Video examples
Burying Beetles Turn...
a year and then fall over dead like this poor fella this shrew is no more it rests in peace or does it is this a death rattle or is the Shrew actually
Video examples
The story of life in...
When the skies cleared, a new world was born. A world fit for mammals. From tiny shrews tenrecs, accustomed to the dark.
Video examples
Why do women have...
A handful of species on Earth share a seemingly mysterious a menstrual cycle. We're one of the select few. Monkeys, apes, bats, humans, and possibly elephant shrews are the only mammals on Earth that menstruate. We also do it more than any other animal,
Video examples
Lifesaving Medicines...
there are two toxins which are in clinical trials for cancer one of them I mentioned it's coming from a shrew venom and I think it's from a very cancer and the second one is coming from a scorpion toxin where this toxin helps to deliver
Video examples
Burying Beetles PIPE...
shrew is run around like crazy for about a year and then fall over dead like this poor fella this shrew is no more it rests in peace or does it is this a death rattle or is the shrew actually you know coming back
Video examples
Cannibal Scorpions vs....
the Shrew poo-poos the stiff he wants a piece of that live scorpion which is why this segment is now called when truths attack scorpions the Scorpions venom could easily kill true but the shrew has the lightning
Video examples
Cannibal Scorpions vs....
enough to cause the live scorpion to abandon his booty and hide itself the shrew poo-poos the stiff he wants a piece of that live scorpion which is why this segment is now called when truths attack scorpion
Video examples
The Killer Rat with...
It was the water shrew. Yeah. Which has venomous saliva, which when it bites, it injects into its prey to stun it and to paralyse it. But I've got to say that venomous mammals are very, very rare
Video examples
Ferocious Shrews Fight...
developed caring for the young is a crucial part of the mammals winning design something few reptiles do a mother shrew will even quench her baby's thirst with her own saliva if necessary
Video examples
Burying Beetles PIPE...
a year and then fall over dead like this poor fella this shrew is no more it rests in peace or does it is this a death rattle or is the shrew actually you know coming back
Video examples
Burying Beetles Turn...
a year and then fall over dead like this poor fella this shrew is no more it rests in peace or does it is this a death rattle or is the Shrew actually
Video examples
The story of life in...
When the skies cleared, a new world was born. A world fit for mammals. From tiny shrews tenrecs, accustomed to the dark.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Rachel Bloom
American Actress
It's double talk and double standards. It's like, be honest, but don't be too honest. Look fresh-faced and young, but don't tell us how you got there. God forbid you have plastic surgery, even though we're telling you, 'Oh, you look old.' Be a career woman, but also, why aren't you having kids? Are you some kind of cold shrew?
Quote examples
Leslie Mann
American Actor
I didn't think I was a humorless shrew in 'Knocked Up.' I think the women are just as funny as the men are in that movie.
Quote examples
Washington Irving
American Writer
Those men are most apt to be obsequious and conciliating abroad, who are under the discipline of shrews at home.
Quote examples
Rachel Bloom
American Actress
It's double talk and double standards. It's like, be honest, but don't be too honest. Look fresh-faced and young, but don't tell us how you got there. God forbid you have plastic surgery, even though we're telling you, 'Oh, you look old.' Be a career woman, but also, why aren't you having kids? Are you some kind of cold shrew?
Quote examples
Leslie Mann
American Actor
I didn't think I was a humorless shrew in 'Knocked Up.' I think the women are just as funny as the men are in that movie.
Quote examples
Washington Irving
American Writer
Those men are most apt to be obsequious and conciliating abroad, who are under the discipline of shrews at home.
Example 1 of 3
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