Dictionary

shy bairns get nowt en · X

Literally “shy children get nothing”, a reference to the shyness of children when making requests.

(Geordie) If you're too shy, or don't ask, you will not get what you want.
- A' forgot te ask 'er fo' me money back! Wye, shy bairns get nowt.
- Aye, Mary, we heard you. How could we not? Ah well, shy bairns get nowt. Will we let her at the microphone and give me a bit peace? 1994, Fiona Cooper, A Skyhook in the Midnight Sun, London; New York, N.Y.: Serpent's Tail, →ISBN, page 121:
- An old Geordie saying says: ‘Shy bairns get nowt!’ It literally means ‘shy children get nothing’, but is used to emphasise that people should speak up for themselves. I think that this saying applies to leaders. 2011, John Marrin, “Ten Tips on Taking the Lead”, in Leadership for Dummies (For Dummies Series), Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley, →ISBN, page 297:
- Ask questions, enquire, and push for more information and care. As the saying goes in the north-east, ‘shy bairns get nowt’! Know your rights and what you are entitled to by pushing and not taking no for an answer. 2007, “Rob [Rob has a Six-year-old Son who was Infected with Cytomegalovirus as a Baby]”, in Jill Harrison, Matthew Henderson, Rob Leonard, editors, Different Dads: Fathers’ Stories of Parenting Disabled Children, London; Philadelphia, Pa.: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, →ISBN, page 37:

Spelling	Features	Labels	Source
shy bairns get noot		alternative	lexicographic