baulk
/bɔːk/
verb
- To hesitate or be unwilling to do something, often because it is difficult or unpleasant.
- She baulked at the idea of jumping out of a plane.
- He baulked when he saw the price of the new car.
- The horse baulked at the high fence and refused to jump.
- To stop or block something from happening; to thwart or prevent.
- New regulations could baulk the company's expansion.
- The sudden storm baulked their plans for a picnic.
- The goalkeeper baulked the striker's shot with a quick dive.
Antonyms
noun
- A situation where someone hesitates or refuses to proceed.
- After several baulks, the team finally agreed to the new schedule.
- There was a baulk in the negotiations when neither side would compromise.
- His baulk at the starting line cost him the race.
- A thick, roughly squared beam of timber used in construction.
- The old barn was supported by massive oak baulks.
- The carpenter selected a straight baulk for the roof frame.
- They used a baulk of wood as a makeshift bridge over the stream.
- In billiards or snooker, the area of the table behind the baulk line from which the cue ball is played.
- The player carefully aimed from the baulk area.
- He placed the cue ball in the baulk to start the game.
- After the foul, the opponent got to shoot from the baulk.