38 Idioms for Scared

Idioms for scared express the feeling of fear and anxiety. These expressions help convey emotions in a creative way, allowing us to relate to our own experiences of being scared. Understanding these idioms can enhance our communication about fear, making it more relatable and engaging.

Here’s a collection of 38 idioms that illustrate various aspects of fear, each accompanied by its meaning, an example sentence, and alternative expressions.

Idioms for Scared

1. Scared stiff

Meaning: Extremely frightened or unable to move because of fear.
In a Sentence: She was scared stiff when she heard a strange noise in the dark.
Other Ways to Say: Frozen in fear, Terrified.

2. Jump out of one’s skin

Meaning: To be very startled or frightened suddenly.
In a Sentence: I nearly jumped out of my skin when the fire alarm went off.
Other Ways to Say: Startle badly, Be taken by surprise.

3. Scared to death

Meaning: Very frightened; to the point of feeling like one might die from fear.
In a Sentence: The horror movie scared her to death; she couldn’t sleep that night.
Other Ways to Say: Terrified, Frightened out of one’s wits.

4. On edge

Meaning: Nervous or anxious, often due to fear or anticipation.
In a Sentence: He’s been on edge ever since he heard about the layoffs at work.
Other Ways to Say: Tense, Jittery.

5. Fear for one’s life

Meaning: To be very afraid that one might be harmed or killed.
In a Sentence: After the car accident, I feared for my life as the vehicle flipped over.
Other Ways to Say: Terrified for safety, Afraid for one’s safety.

6. White as a ghost

Meaning: Very pale, often due to fear or shock.
In a Sentence: She looked white as a ghost after hearing the bad news.
Other Ways to Say: Pale as death, Ashen-faced.

7. Spine-chilling

Meaning: Causing a feeling of fear or horror.
In a Sentence: The spine-chilling story left everyone in the room silent and afraid.
Other Ways to Say: Hair-raising, Terrifying.

8. Face like a thundercloud

Meaning: A facial expression that shows anger or fear.
In a Sentence: When he learned about the surprise test, he had a face like a thundercloud.
Other Ways to Say: Stormy expression, Angry look.

9. Caught between a rock and a hard place

Meaning: In a difficult situation where one has to make a tough choice.
In a Sentence: She felt caught between a rock and a hard place when deciding whether to confront her boss.
Other Ways to Say: In a dilemma, Stuck in a tough spot.

10. Idioms for Scared Shaking in one’s boots

Meaning: To be very frightened or nervous.
In a Sentence: He was shaking in his boots during the scary presentation.
Other Ways to Say: Trembling with fear, Quaking in fear.

11. Cold feet

Meaning: To become afraid or hesitant about something one was previously excited about.
In a Sentence: She got cold feet before the wedding and started having second thoughts.
Other Ways to Say: Hesitant, Nervous about commitment.

12. Have a gut feeling

Meaning: To have an instinctive feeling, often of fear or anxiety.
In a Sentence: I had a gut feeling something was wrong when he didn’t answer his phone.
Other Ways to Say: Intuitive sense, Instinctual fear.

13. In over one’s head

Meaning: To be in a situation that is too difficult to handle.
In a Sentence: He realized he was in over his head when the project turned out to be more complex than expected.
Other Ways to Say: Out of one’s depth, In a tough situation.

14. Scared out of one’s wits

Meaning: Extremely frightened or shocked.
In a Sentence: The sudden thunder scared her out of her wits during the storm.
Other Ways to Say: Frightened to the core, Terrified.

15. A jumpy person

Meaning: Someone who is easily startled or frightened.
In a Sentence: My brother is a jumpy person; he gets scared by the slightest noise.
Other Ways to Say: Easily startled, Nervous.

16. Panic-stricken

Meaning: Overcome with panic; extremely frightened.
In a Sentence: The panic-stricken crowd rushed to the exits when the fire alarm went off.
Other Ways to Say: Frantic, Overwhelmed with fear.

17. The hair on the back of one’s neck stands up

Meaning: To feel a sudden fear or apprehension.
In a Sentence: When she heard footsteps behind her, the hair on the back of her neck stood up.
Other Ways to Say: Feel a chill, Sense danger.

18. A nerve-wracking experience

Meaning: Something that causes extreme anxiety or fear.
In a Sentence: The job interview turned out to be a nerve-wracking experience for him.
Other Ways to Say: Stressful situation, Tense moment.

19. A scaredy-cat

Meaning: Someone who is easily frightened; a coward.
In a Sentence: Don’t be such a scaredy-cat; it’s just a movie!
Other Ways to Say: Coward, Timid person.

20. Idioms for Scared Running scared

Meaning: To be frightened and fleeing from a situation.
In a Sentence: After the warning, he was running scared, trying to get away from danger.
Other Ways to Say: Fleeing in fear, Escaping in panic.

21. Afraid of one’s shadow

Meaning: Being overly fearful or easily frightened.
In a Sentence: Ever since the incident, he’s been afraid of his shadow, jumping at every sound.
Other Ways to Say: Excessively timid, Fearful of everything.

22. A leap in the dark

Meaning: A risky or uncertain action taken without knowing the outcome.
In a Sentence: Starting a new job felt like a leap in the dark for her.
Other Ways to Say: A risky venture, Taking a chance.

23. A dark cloud hanging over

Meaning: A feeling of impending doom or fear.
In a Sentence: There was a dark cloud hanging over the company after the layoffs.
Other Ways to Say: A sense of dread, An ominous feeling.

24. A fearful heart

Meaning: To be filled with anxiety or fear.
In a Sentence: She faced the challenge with a fearful heart, unsure of the outcome.
Other Ways to Say: An anxious spirit, A heart full of worry.

25. Fear the worst

Meaning: To anticipate a negative outcome.
In a Sentence: With the storm approaching, I began to fear the worst for our picnic plans.
Other Ways to Say: Expect the worst, Anticipate trouble.

26. Walking on eggshells

Meaning: To be very cautious or careful to avoid upsetting someone.
In a Sentence: Ever since the argument, I’ve been walking on eggshells around him.
Other Ways to Say: Treading lightly, Being overly cautious.

27. A chilling effect

Meaning: A feeling of fear or intimidation that discourages certain behaviors.
In a Sentence: The warning had a chilling effect on the students, making them hesitant to speak out.
Other Ways to Say: A stifling atmosphere, An intimidating presence.

28. In the line of fire

Meaning: In a dangerous or risky situation.
In a Sentence: Working in the emergency room, she often found herself in the line of fire.
Other Ways to Say: In danger, At risk.

29. A fearful glance

Meaning: A look that expresses fear or apprehension.
In a Sentence: He shot her a fearful glance when the lights flickered.
Other Ways to Say: An anxious look, A scared expression.

30. Idioms for Scared A shadow of doubt

Meaning: A feeling of uncertainty or fear about something.
In a Sentence: There was a shadow of doubt in her mind about taking the leap.
Other Ways to Say: Uncertainty, A hint of fear.

31. The fear of the unknown

Meaning: Anxiety about what is unfamiliar or uncertain.
In a Sentence: Many people experience the fear of the unknown when starting a new job.
Other Ways to Say: Anxiety about change, Apprehension of new experiences.

32. Get cold feet

Meaning: To suddenly become too scared to proceed with something.
In a Sentence: He got cold feet right before the wedding, doubting his decision.
Other Ways to Say: Hesitate at the last minute, Back out.

33. A sense of dread

Meaning: A feeling of fear or anxiety about something that may happen.
In a Sentence: I had a sense of dread about the upcoming exam after my lack of preparation.
Other Ways to Say: Fearful anticipation, An ominous feeling.

34. A heart in one’s throat

Meaning: To feel very anxious or frightened.
In a Sentence: When he heard the loud crash, his heart felt like it was in his throat.
Other Ways to Say: Heart racing, Feeling anxious.

35. Caught in a nightmare

Meaning: Experiencing a very frightening or distressing situation.
In a Sentence: After the accident, she felt like she was caught in a nightmare.
Other Ways to Say: Living through a horror, In a terrifying situation.

36. As jumpy as a cat

Meaning: Extremely nervous or easily startled.
In a Sentence: After the loud thunder, the dog was as jumpy as a cat.
Other Ways to Say: Very skittish, Easily scared.

37. A pit in one’s stomach

Meaning: A feeling of anxiety or fear that causes discomfort.
In a Sentence: I had a pit in my stomach before giving the speech.
Other Ways to Say: A feeling of dread, Anxiety in the gut.

38. Run for the hills

Meaning: To flee or escape from danger.
In a Sentence: When the fire alarm rang, everyone started to run for the hills.
Other Ways to Say: Flee from danger, Escape quickly.

Quiz on Idioms for Scared

1. What does “scared stiff” mean?

A) Very relaxed
B) Extremely frightened
C) Slightly nervous
Answer: B) Extremely frightened

2. “Jump out of one’s skin” implies:

A) To be very startled
B) To be calm
C) To sleep well
Answer: A) To be very startled

3. Which idiom means to be very frightened, to the point of feeling like one might die?

A) On edge
B) Scared to death
C) Cold feet
Answer: B) Scared to death

4. “Walking on eggshells” refers to:

A) Being carefree
B) Being very cautious
C) Enjoying life
Answer: B) Being very cautious

5. What does “a pit in one’s stomach” represent?

A) Happiness
B) Anxiety or fear
C) Excitement
Answer: B) Anxiety or fear

Conclusion

Idioms for scared effectively communicate the various nuances of fear and anxiety. They offer creative ways to express feelings of apprehension and distress in everyday conversations. By incorporating these idioms into our vocabulary, we can better articulate our experiences and connect with others who share similar feelings of fear.

Carla Jones

Carla Jones is an expert blogger in English Language Teaching, sharing innovative strategies and insights to empower educators and enhance language learning experiences for students worldwide.