Flowers add so much to our world . They feed the bees and other pollinators . They are beautiful . Some smell so good that they are used in perfume , lotion and other body products . Many parents name their daughters after flowers . Popular ones are Daisy , Rose , Lily , Jasmine , Heather , Holly and Violet . On today's program we are going to talk about that last one – Violet . The name Violet is found in an English expression . A shrinking violet describes someone who is very shy . Shrinking violets are not bold . They are afraid to speak their minds . Another adjective to describe a shrinking violet is modest . They do not like to be the center of attention . However , we often use this expression to describe people who are the opposite of modest , shy and fearful . And we often say it a special way . We say that someone is “no shrinking violet ” instead of saying “not a shrinking violet .” Let me give an example . My friend Olga loves to perform . She is a great singer . And she's no shrinking violet ! If there is a party , you don't need to ask her twice to sing for a crowd . Just give her a microphone and an audience and she is ready to perform ! Now that I think of it , she doesn't even need a microphone … or an audience . She's also no shrinking violet when it comes to sharing her thoughts . You always know where you stand with Olga . To know where you stand with someone means you know how they feel about things – and how they feel about you . They share their thoughts and feelings freely . Now , let's talk about another flower – the wallflower . If you look up “wallflower ” in the dictionary , you might get confused . Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary says wallflowers are hardy herbs often grown for their showy , sweet-smelling flowers . They are even able to grow in extremely small cracks in walls . That is where they get their name – wallflower . In nature , wallflowers may be “showy ” – or have a very noticeable appearance . But strangely , people who are described as wallflowers are not showy . In fact , a person who is a wallflower is the opposite ! Like shrinking violets , these people are also quiet and shy . At a party , a wallflower can be found standing against the wall , watching the fun from a distance . They stay apart from other people – waiting for someone to talk to them or ask them to dance . Practice using these two expressions : shrinking violet or wallflower .