shy bairns get nowt
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: shy bairns get noot
Meaning · English
If you're too shy, or don't ask, you will not get what you want.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
Nếu quá rụt rè, bạn sẽ không nhận được điều mình muốn
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
A' forgot te ask 'er fo' me money back!
Wye, shy bairns get nowt.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “shy bairns get nowt” mean?
If you're too shy, or don't ask, you will not get what you want.
Is “shy bairns get nowt” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.