Crossword Genius

Like a little boy afraid to finish? (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

timid

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'like' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?

'a little boy afraid to finish?' is the wordplay.
'a little boy' becomes 'timi' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'to finish?' suggests the final letters (I've seen 'finish of' mean this).
The final letter of 'afraid' is 'd'.
'timi'+'d'='TIMID'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for timid that I've seen before include "Nervous and easily alarmed" , "Inclined to avoid people" , "doormat" , "afraid to speak out?" , "Mouse" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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