When we feel frightened, anxious, or uneasy, language provides us with creative ways to express those emotions. Idioms for scared offer vivid ways to describe fear, from a sudden startle to long-lasting unease. These expressions help us communicate our feelings in a more colorful and impactful way.
Incorporating these idioms into your speech or writing not only adds richness to your vocabulary but also allows you to express fear in ways that are more relatable and engaging. Let’s explore 20 idioms for scared and their meanings!
1. Jump out of one’s skin
Meaning: To be extremely startled or frightened, often unexpectedly.
In a Sentence: The loud crash of thunder made me jump out of my skin.
Other Ways to Say: Be scared out of one’s wits, Be frightened out of one’s mind.
2. Have butterflies in one’s stomach
Meaning: To feel nervous or anxious about something, often before an important event.
In a Sentence: Before the job interview, I had butterflies in my stomach.
Other Ways to Say: Feel jittery, Have the jitters.
3. Shake like a leaf
Meaning: To tremble or shiver uncontrollably due to fear or nervousness.
In a Sentence: The boy shook like a leaf during the scary movie.
Other Ways to Say: Tremble with fear, Quiver.
4. White as a ghost
Meaning: To become extremely pale due to shock or fear.
In a Sentence: After hearing the news, she turned as white as a ghost.
Other Ways to Say: Ghostly pale, Ashen.
5. Scared stiff
Meaning: To be frozen with fear, unable to move or react.
In a Sentence: The sight of the snake left him scared stiff.
Other Ways to Say: Petrified, Frozen with fear.
6. Hair standing on end
Meaning: To feel so frightened that it seems like your hair is standing up.
In a Sentence: The eerie sound in the forest made my hair stand on end.
Other Ways to Say: Goosebumps, Hair-raising.
7. Heart in one’s throat
Meaning: To feel intense anxiety or fear, as if your heart is physically rising in your throat.
In a Sentence: As the roller coaster climbed, I could feel my heart in my throat.
Other Ways to Say: Heart pounding, Heart racing.
8. Jump at one’s own shadow
Meaning: To be easily startled or overly frightened, often in an exaggerated manner.
In a Sentence: After watching the horror film, he jumped at his own shadow.
Other Ways to Say: Be overly timid, Be jittery.
9. Scare the living daylights out of someone
Meaning: To frighten someone severely, often causing them to panic.
In a Sentence: The surprise party scared the living daylights out of her.
Other Ways to Say: Terrify, Shock someone senseless.
10. Heart pounding in one’s chest
Meaning: To feel one’s heartbeat race, typically from fear or nervousness.
In a Sentence: As the villain appeared, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.
Other Ways to Say: Heart thumping, Heart racing.
11. Run for the hills
Meaning: To flee or escape in panic, often in a dangerous situation.
In a Sentence: When the fire alarm went off, everyone ran for the hills.
Other Ways to Say: Bolt, Flee in terror.
12. Quaking in one’s boots
Meaning: To tremble with fear, often involuntarily.
In a Sentence: The thought of public speaking had her quaking in her boots.
Other Ways to Say: Tremble with fear, Shake in one’s shoes.
13. Have cold feet
Meaning: To become nervous or scared, especially about committing to something.
In a Sentence: He got cold feet about going on the skydiving trip.
Other Ways to Say: Get nervous, Hesitate.
14. Have a panic attack
Meaning: To experience a sudden, intense feeling of fear or anxiety.
In a Sentence: She had a panic attack when she realized she had lost her wallet.
Other Ways to Say: Freak out, Get overwhelmed.
15. Scared out of one’s wits
Meaning: To be so frightened that one can barely think or react.
In a Sentence: The ghost story scared me out of my wits.
Other Ways to Say: Terrified, Scared silly.
16. Make one’s blood run cold
Meaning: To cause extreme fear or horror, as if one’s blood has stopped flowing.
In a Sentence: The sight of the dark figure in the alley made my blood run cold.
Other Ways to Say: Send chills down one’s spine, Chill to the bone.
17. Have the heebie-jeebies
Meaning: To feel uneasy, creeped out, or disturbed.
In a Sentence: Being alone in the abandoned house always gives me the heebie-jeebies.
Other Ways to Say: Feel spooked, Be creeped out.
18. Scaredy-cat
Meaning: A person who is easily frightened or too cautious.
In a Sentence: Don’t be such a scaredy-cat; it’s just a harmless bug!
Other Ways to Say: Chicken, Fraidy-cat.
19. Freeze with fear
Meaning: To become completely motionless due to overwhelming fear.
In a Sentence: When the bear approached, we froze with fear.
Other Ways to Say: Petrified, Stunned with fear.
20. Send shivers down one’s spine
Meaning: To cause someone to feel fear or a sense of unease.
In a Sentence: The sound of footsteps behind me sent shivers down my spine.
Other Ways to Say: Give someone goosebumps, Send chills down one’s back.
21. Be on pins and needles
Meaning: To feel nervous, anxious, or in suspense.
In a Sentence: Waiting for the test results had me on pins and needles.
Other Ways to Say: Be anxious, Be on edge.
22. Like a deer caught in the headlights
Meaning: To be so scared or shocked that you freeze or are unable to act.
In a Sentence: When the teacher asked him a question, he was like a deer caught in the headlights.
Other Ways to Say: Be dumbstruck, Be frozen in fear.
23. Scared to death
Meaning: To be extremely frightened.
In a Sentence: The creepy noise in the dark scared me to death.
Other Ways to Say: Terrified, Horrified.
24. Be beside oneself with fear
Meaning: To be so overwhelmed with fear that you can’t control yourself.
In a Sentence: She was beside herself with fear when she realized her child was missing.
Other Ways to Say: Panic-stricken, Overcome with terror.
25. Get the shakes
Meaning: To tremble or shake because of fear.
In a Sentence: He got the shakes just before stepping onto the stage.
Other Ways to Say: Shiver, Quiver.
26. Be in a cold sweat
Meaning: To be so frightened that you sweat profusely.
In a Sentence: After hearing the sudden crash, I was in a cold sweat.
Other Ways to Say: Be drenched in fear, Sweat buckets.
27. Feel like your heart is in your stomach
Meaning: To feel a strong, uneasy sensation, often due to fear or anxiety.
In a Sentence: As the deadline approached, I felt like my heart was in my stomach.
Other Ways to Say: Feel sick with worry, Feel dread.
28. To be jumpy
Meaning: To be easily startled or nervous.
In a Sentence: After the horror movie, she was so jumpy that every little sound made her flinch.
Other Ways to Say: Be on edge, Be twitchy.
29. To have a sinking feeling
Meaning: To feel a sudden sense of fear or dread, as if something bad is about to happen.
In a Sentence: When the door creaked open, I had a sinking feeling that someone was there.
Other Ways to Say: Have a bad feeling, Feel uneasy.
30. To be scared stiff as a board
Meaning: To be frozen with fear, unable to move.
In a Sentence: When the lights went out, I was scared stiff as a board.
Other Ways to Say: Freeze in fear, Be paralyzed with fear.
31. To be a nervous wreck
Meaning: To be so overwhelmed by fear or anxiety that it affects your ability to function.
In a Sentence: He was a nervous wreck before his presentation.
Other Ways to Say: Be in a state of panic, Be a bundle of nerves.
32. To get the creeps
Meaning: To feel uneasy or frightened, often due to something disturbing.
In a Sentence: The old, abandoned house always gives me the creeps.
Other Ways to Say: Get the chills, Be unnerved.
33. To be scared out of one’s boots
Meaning: To be extremely frightened, as if you want to run away in fear.
In a Sentence: The thunderstorm scared me out of my boots.
Other Ways to Say: Be scared to death, Be frightened beyond measure.
34. To jump through hoops
Meaning: To do something difficult or stressful because of fear or pressure.
In a Sentence: She had to jump through hoops just to get her promotion, and it was terrifying.
Other Ways to Say: Struggle with fear, Be under pressure.
35. Be as scared as a rabbit
Meaning: To be very timid or easily frightened.
In a Sentence: He was as scared as a rabbit when the thunderstorm started.
Other Ways to Say: Be skittish, Be afraid of one’s shadow.
36. To be scared out of one’s mind
Meaning: To be deeply terrified or shocked.
In a Sentence: The loud bang scared me out of my mind.
Other Ways to Say: Terrified, In shock.
37. To have the chills
Meaning: To feel a cold sensation on your skin due to fear or unease.
In a Sentence: The thought of being alone in the dark gave me the chills.
Other Ways to Say: Have goosebumps, Feel a cold shiver.
38. To jump a mile
Meaning: To be so startled by something that you react dramatically.
In a Sentence: The sudden sound of the phone ringing made me jump a mile.
Other Ways to Say: Be shocked, Be startled.
39. Be scared half to death
Meaning: To be terrified, often to the point of not being able to function.
In a Sentence: When the power went out in the middle of the night, I was scared half to death.
Other Ways to Say: Terrified, Frozen in fear.
40. To freeze in one’s tracks
Meaning: To stop moving because of fear or shock.
In a Sentence: She froze in her tracks when she saw the spider.
Other Ways to Say: Be rooted to the spot, Be frozen in place.
41. To be as white as a sheet
Meaning: To look extremely pale due to fear or shock.
In a Sentence: After hearing the bad news, she was as white as a sheet.
Other Ways to Say: Be ghostly pale, Be drained of color.
42. To feel like you’re walking on eggshells
Meaning: To feel very nervous or cautious, often out of fear of upsetting someone or making a mistake.
In a Sentence: When I spoke to my boss about the mistake, I felt like I was walking on eggshells.
Other Ways to Say: Be on edge, Be careful with every step.
43. To be frightened out of one’s senses
Meaning: To be so scared that it overwhelms your ability to think clearly.
In a Sentence: The sudden scream from the haunted house frightened me out of my senses.
Other Ways to Say: Terrified, In a state of shock.
44. To feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up
Meaning: To experience a sudden feeling of fear or unease.
In a Sentence: The strange noises from the basement made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Other Ways to Say: Be on alert, Feel uneasy.
45. To be spooked
Meaning: To be scared, often due to something unexpected or creepy.
In a Sentence: The ghost story left me spooked for the rest of the night.
Other Ways to Say: Be startled, Get a fright.
Quiz: Idioms for Scared
1. Which idiom means to be extremely frightened or shocked?
a) Get the shakes
b) Scared out of one’s mind
c) Be on pins and needles
d) Like a deer caught in the headlights
Answer: b) Scared out of one’s mind
2. What does the idiom “freeze in one’s tracks” mean?
a) To become too cold to move
b) To stop moving because of fear
c) To run away in fear
d) To jump in fright
Answer: b) To stop moving because of fear
3. Which idiom refers to being so frightened that you are unable to react or act?
a) Like a deer caught in the headlights
b) Scared stiff as a board
c) Get the creeps
d) Be on eggshells
Answer: b) Scared stiff as a board
4. The expression “have the chills” means:
a) To feel excited
b) To feel a cold sensation due to fear
c) To have goosebumps from joy
d) To be nervous and anxious
Answer: b) To feel a cold sensation due to fear
5. Which idiom means to feel nervous and anxious, often waiting for something?
a) Be beside oneself with fear
b) Be on pins and needles
c) To have a sinking feeling
d) To get the shakes
Answer: b) Be on pins and needles
6. What does “to get the shakes” refer to
a) To experience a sudden burst of energy
b) To tremble or shake because of fear
c) To become overly confident
d) To be confused and unsure
Answer: b) To tremble or shake because of fear
7. “Scared half to death” means:
a) To be mildly startled
b) To be terrified
c) To be frozen with fear
d) To experience temporary shock
Answer: b) To be terrified
8. The idiom “feel the fear in your gut” indicates:
a) A nervous feeling in your stomach
b) Physical pain from fear
c) Intense anger
d) A sudden burst of courage
Answer: a) A nervous feeling in your stomach
9. Which of the following idioms means to be so frightened you cannot act?
a) To be a basket case
b) Be as white as a sheet
c) Freeze in one’s tracks
d) To jump a mile
Answer: c) Freeze in one’s tracks
10. What does “be beside oneself with fear” mean?
a) To be in shock and unable to function
b) To feel a sense of dread without acting
c) To experience a rush of excitement
d) To remain calm during a scary event
Answer: a) To be in shock and unable to function
11. If someone says they are “scared to death,” they mean:
a) They feel slightly uncomfortable
b) They are mildly annoyed
c) They are extremely frightened
d) They are unsure about something
Answer: c) They are extremely frightened
12. Which idiom means to be startled or shaken by fear but still able to act?
a) Be as scared as a rabbit
b) Be on eggshells
c) Scared out of one’s boots
d) To have a sinking feeling
Answer: c) Scared out of one’s boots
13. “To feel a lump in one’s throat” usually refers to:
a) Feeling very emotional or on the verge of tears
b) Having difficulty swallowing food
c) Experiencing a lack of oxygen
d) A sudden sharp pain
Answer: a) Feeling very emotional or on the verge of tears
14. Which idiom means to feel uneasy or creeped out?
a) To get the willies
b) To freeze with fear
c) To be jumpy
d) To get the shakes
Answer: a) To get the willies
15. “Scared stiff” means:
a) To be frozen in fear and unable to move
b) To be highly agitated
c) To feel jittery but still functional
d) To experience a mild sense of discomfort
Answer: a) To be frozen in fear and unable to move
16. The idiom “to jump through hoops” means:
a) To be overly brave in a situation
b) To struggle with fear or pressure
c) To avoid something difficult
d) To experience pure joy
Answer: b) To struggle with fear or pressure
17. “Like a deer caught in the headlights” describes someone who:
a) Reacts aggressively to fear
b) Frees themselves from fear
c) Is stunned or frozen in fear
d) Runs away from fear
Answer: c) Is stunned or frozen in fear
18. Which idiom refers to a person who is very jumpy or easily startled?
a) Scared silly
b) Get the shakes
c) To be jumpy
d) To be spooked
Answer: c) To be jumpy
19. What does the idiom “heart in one’s mouth” refer to?
a) A feeling of excitement
b) A sense of dread or anxiety
c) A sudden feeling of joy
d) A sudden burst of adrenaline
Answer: b) A sense of dread or anxiety
20. “To be scared out of one’s mind” means:
a) To be in complete shock
b) To be slightly uneasy
c) To be deeply terrified or horrified
d) To panic and run
Answer: c) To be deeply terrified or horrified
21. “To get the creeps” means:
a) To become angry
b) To feel uneasy or frightened
c) To feel hungry
d) To become overly confident
Answer: b) To feel uneasy or frightened
22. If someone is described as being “as scared as a rabbit,” it means they
a) Are very brave
b) Are easily frightened
c) Are freezing with fear
d) Are calm in dangerous situations
Answer: b) Are easily frightened
23. The phrase “to feel like you’re walking on eggshells” means:
a) To feel physically exhausted
b) To be nervous or cautious
c) To feel extremely calm
d) To be prepared for something exciting
Answer: b) To be nervous or cautious
24. “To have the heebie-jeebies” means:
a) To feel extreme joy
b) To feel nervous or frightened
c) To feel confident
d) To feel a sense of peace
Answer: b) To feel nervous or frightened
25. “To be a nervous wreck” refers to someone who is:
a) Extremely calm under pressure
b) Overcome with fear or anxiety
c) Full of excitement
d) Completely fearless
Answer: b) Overcome with fear or anxiety
Conclusion
Idioms for fear and anxiety offer a vivid and creative way to express the intense emotions we feel in scary or nerve-wracking situations. By learning and using these expressions, we not only expand our vocabulary but also gain a deeper understanding of how language captures complex feelings.
Whether you’re trembling in your boots, feeling your heart race, or getting the willies, these idioms bring color and depth to everyday conversations. Embracing these phrases can help you communicate more effectively and connect with others through shared expressions of emotion.
