shrink back

The thick wooden walls were glowing with the heat, and he could see the people shrink back when they got too near them.

She looked at him thoughtfully, and then of a sudden seemed to shrink back, and her face went whiter.

"You will do nothing of the sort," said Pratt in a slow, venomous way which made her shrink back.

But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul.Heb.

Harlan saw him shrink back, the bluster gone out of him, his face the color of ashes.