Fear is one of those universal emotions that everyone experiences, yet we’ve come up with countless colorful ways to describe it. From jumping out of our skin to having our hearts in our throats, the English language is bursting with vivid idioms that capture every shade of fright.
Whether you’re writing a spooky story, describing a nerve-wracking experience, or just want to add some flavor to your conversations, these idioms can help you express fear in creative and memorable ways. Let’s dive into 55 fantastic expressions that make talking about being scared a whole lot more fun!
1. Scared stiff
Meaning: So frightened that you can’t move, as if your body has become rigid with fear.
In a Sentence: When I saw the snake on the hiking trail, I was scared stiff and couldn’t take another step.
Other Ways to Say: Frozen with fear, petrified, paralyzed with terror
2. Jump out of one’s skin
Meaning: To be so startled or frightened that you react with a sudden physical jolt.
In a Sentence: The loud thunder made me jump out of my skin while I was reading in the quiet library.
Other Ways to Say: Leap out of one’s shoes, nearly have a heart attack, jump a mile
3. Shake like a leaf
Meaning: To tremble uncontrollably due to fear or nervousness.
In a Sentence: During my first public speech, I was shaking like a leaf the entire time.
Other Ways to Say: Quake in one’s boots, tremble like a jelly, shake like jelly
4. Hair-raising
Meaning: Extremely frightening or terrifying, as if it could make your hair stand on end.
In a Sentence: The roller coaster ride was absolutely hair-raising, especially that final drop.
Other Ways to Say: Spine-chilling, blood-curdling, spine-tingling
5. Break out in a cold sweat
Meaning: To suddenly start sweating due to fear or anxiety.
In a Sentence: I broke out in a cold sweat when I realized I’d forgotten about the important meeting.
Other Ways to Say: Start sweating bullets, perspire with fear, get clammy
6. Heart in one’s mouth
Meaning: To feel extremely anxious or frightened, as if your heart has risen to your throat.
In a Sentence: My heart was in my mouth as I watched the tightrope walker nearly lose his balance.
Other Ways to Say: Heart in one’s throat, heart pounding, heart racing
7. Scared out of one’s wits
Meaning: To be so terrified that you can’t think clearly or rationally.
In a Sentence: The horror movie scared me out of my wits, and I couldn’t sleep that night.
Other Ways to Say: Frightened to death, scared senseless, terrified beyond reason
8. White as a sheet
Meaning: To become extremely pale due to fear or shock.
In a Sentence: After hearing the news, she turned white as a sheet and had to sit down.
Other Ways to Say: White as a ghost, pale as death, ashen-faced
9. Blood run cold
Meaning: To feel a sudden chill or shudder due to extreme fear or horror.
In a Sentence: My blood ran cold when I heard footsteps behind me in the dark alley.
Other Ways to Say: Chilled to the bone, frozen with fear, ice in one’s veins
10. Have one’s heart in one’s boots
Meaning: To feel extremely discouraged, anxious, or frightened about something.
In a Sentence: I had my heart in my boots waiting for the exam results to be posted.
Other Ways to Say: Feel down in the dumps, be heavy-hearted, feel sinking feeling
11. Weak at the knees
Meaning: To feel physically unsteady due to fear, shock, or strong emotion.
In a Sentence: The near-accident left me weak at the knees for several minutes afterward.
Other Ways to Say: Wobbly-legged, rubber-legged, knees turning to jelly
12. Not sleep a wink
Meaning: To be unable to sleep at all due to worry or fear.
In a Sentence: I didn’t sleep a wink the night before my job interview because I was so nervous.
Other Ways to Say: Toss and turn all night, lie awake, stay up all night
13. Butterflies in one’s stomach
Meaning: To feel nervous fluttering sensations in your stomach due to anxiety or anticipation.
In a Sentence: I always get butterflies in my stomach right before going on stage.
Other Ways to Say: Stomach in knots, queasy feeling, nervous stomach
14. Goose bumps
Meaning: Small bumps that appear on the skin when frightened, cold, or experiencing strong emotion.
In a Sentence: The ghost story gave me goose bumps all over my arms.
Other Ways to Say: Gooseflesh, hair standing on end, skin crawling
15. Quake in one’s boots
Meaning: To be extremely frightened or intimidated by something or someone.
In a Sentence: The students were quaking in their boots before meeting the strict new principal.
Other Ways to Say: Shake in one’s shoes, tremble with fear, cower in fear
16. Scared witless
Meaning: To be so frightened that you lose your ability to think clearly.
In a Sentence: The unexpected explosion scared me witless and I ran without thinking.
Other Ways to Say: Frightened out of one’s mind, scared silly, terrified beyond belief
17. On edge
Meaning: To be nervous, anxious, or easily startled.
In a Sentence: Everyone was on edge after hearing about the break-ins in the neighborhood.
Other Ways to Say: Jumpy, nervous, wound up tight
18. Run for the hills
Meaning: To flee quickly from danger or an unpleasant situation.
In a Sentence: When they announced mandatory overtime, half the staff wanted to run for the hills.
Other Ways to Say: Make a run for it, flee in panic, beat a hasty retreat
19. Scaredy-cat
Meaning: A person who is easily frightened or overly timid (often used playfully).
In a Sentence: Don’t be such a scaredy-cat—it’s just a tiny spider!
Other Ways to Say: Chicken, coward, fraidy-cat
20. Spine-tingling
Meaning: Causing a shivering sensation along the spine due to fear or excitement.
In a Sentence: The mystery novel had a spine-tingling plot twist at the end.
Other Ways to Say: Spine-chilling, hair-raising, thrilling
21. Petrified
Meaning: So frightened that you become unable to move or act.
In a Sentence: I was petrified when the car started sliding on the icy road.
Other Ways to Say: Paralyzed with fear, frozen in terror, scared stiff
22. Chicken out
Meaning: To decide not to do something because you’re too scared.
In a Sentence: I was going to try bungee jumping, but I chickened out at the last minute.
Other Ways to Say: Back out, lose your nerve, get cold feet
23. Get cold feet
Meaning: To suddenly become too nervous or frightened to do something you planned.
In a Sentence: He got cold feet right before asking her to marry him.
Other Ways to Say: Lose one’s nerve, have second thoughts, back down
24. Lose one’s nerve
Meaning: To become too frightened to continue with a planned action.
In a Sentence: She was about to confront her boss but lost her nerve when she saw him.
Other Ways to Say: Get cold feet, chicken out, back away
25. Afraid of one’s own shadow
Meaning: To be extremely timid and frightened of everything, even harmless things.
In a Sentence: After watching too many horror films, he became afraid of his own shadow.
Other Ways to Say: Jumpy as a cat, nervous wreck, easily spooked
26. Shiver down one’s spine
Meaning: A physical sensation of fear or unease that seems to travel down your back.
In a Sentence: The creaking sound sent a shiver down my spine as I walked through the old house.
Other Ways to Say: Chill up one’s back, tingle of fear, cold sensation
27. Like a deer in headlights
Meaning: To be so shocked or frightened that you freeze and can’t react appropriately.
In a Sentence: When the teacher called on me unexpectedly, I just stood there like a deer in headlights.
Other Ways to Say: Frozen in place, stunned into silence, caught off guard
28. Scared to death
Meaning: Extremely frightened, as if the fear could be fatal.
In a Sentence: I was scared to death when I thought I’d lost my passport at the airport.
Other Ways to Say: Frightened to death, scared out of one’s mind, terrified beyond measure
29. Bone-chilling
Meaning: So frightening or disturbing that it seems to penetrate to your very bones.
In a Sentence: The bone-chilling scream echoed through the empty hallway.
Other Ways to Say: Blood-curdling, terrifying, spine-chilling
30. Stomach in knots
Meaning: To feel anxious tension in your stomach due to nervousness or fear.
In a Sentence: My stomach was in knots all morning before the big presentation.
Other Ways to Say: Butterflies in stomach, queasy with nerves, twisted stomach
31. Sweating bullets
Meaning: To sweat profusely due to extreme nervousness or fear.
In a Sentence: I was sweating bullets during the lie detector test, even though I was telling the truth.
Other Ways to Say: Breaking out in a sweat, perspiring heavily, dripping with sweat
32. Yellow-bellied
Meaning: Cowardly or lacking courage (somewhat old-fashioned term).
In a Sentence: He called me yellow-bellied for not wanting to explore the abandoned building.
Other Ways to Say: Cowardly, chicken-hearted, lily-livered
33. Lily-livered
Meaning: Lacking courage or bravery; cowardly.
In a Sentence: The villain in the story turned out to be lily-livered when confronted by the hero.
Other Ways to Say: Spineless, gutless, yellow-bellied
34. Shaking in one’s shoes
Meaning: To be visibly nervous or frightened about something.
In a Sentence: The defendant was shaking in his shoes as the verdict was announced.
Other Ways to Say: Quaking in one’s boots, trembling with fear, shaking like a leaf
35. Heart skip a beat
Meaning: To experience a sudden moment of fear, shock, or surprise.
In a Sentence: My heart skipped a beat when I saw the car swerve into my lane.
Other Ways to Say: Heart jump, heart lurch, heart stop momentarily
36. Nerves of steel
Meaning: The ability to remain calm in frightening situations (the opposite of being scared).
In a Sentence: You’d need nerves of steel to work as a bomb disposal expert.
Other Ways to Say: Ice in one’s veins, cool under pressure, unshakeable composure
37. Make one’s flesh crawl
Meaning: To cause a creepy or uncomfortable feeling of fear or disgust.
In a Sentence: The way he stared at people made my flesh crawl.
Other Ways to Say: Give the creeps, make skin crawl, cause revulsion
38. Bundle of nerves
Meaning: To be extremely nervous or anxious about something.
In a Sentence: I was a bundle of nerves on my wedding day.
Other Ways to Say: Nervous wreck, bag of nerves, jittery mess
39. Spooked
Meaning: Frightened or made nervous by something, usually suddenly.
In a Sentence: The horse got spooked by the sudden noise and bolted.
Other Ways to Say: Startled, frightened, alarmed
40. Terror-stricken
Meaning: Overwhelmed by extreme fear or terror.
In a Sentence: The terror-stricken crowd fled from the building when the alarm sounded.
Other Ways to Say: Panic-stricken, horror-struck, gripped by fear
41. Scared spitless
Meaning: Extremely frightened, to the point where your mouth goes dry.
In a Sentence: I was scared spitless when I realized I was lost in the woods after dark.
Other Ways to Say: Scared witless, frightened to death, terrified beyond words
42. Skin crawl
Meaning: To feel an uncomfortable, creepy sensation on your skin due to fear or disgust.
In a Sentence: The thought of snakes in the basement makes my skin crawl.
Other Ways to Say: Flesh creep, give goose bumps, make uncomfortable
43. In a panic
Meaning: In a state of sudden, overwhelming fear or anxiety.
In a Sentence: She was in a panic when she couldn’t find her child in the crowded mall.
Other Ways to Say: Panicking, in a state of alarm, frantic with fear
44. Gut-wrenching
Meaning: Causing intense emotional distress or fear in the pit of your stomach.
In a Sentence: Watching the climber slip was a gut-wrenching moment for everyone.
Other Ways to Say: Heart-wrenching, stomach-turning, deeply distressing
45. Have kittens
Meaning: To be extremely anxious, worried, or frightened about something (British informal).
In a Sentence: My mom will have kittens when she finds out I dented the car.
Other Ways to Say: Have a fit, freak out, panic
46. Teeth chattering
Meaning: When your teeth click together involuntarily due to cold or fear.
In a Sentence: I was so scared waiting in the dark that my teeth were chattering.
Other Ways to Say: Trembling, shaking with fear, quivering
47. Wide-eyed with fear
Meaning: Having eyes opened very wide due to shock or fright.
In a Sentence: The children stood wide-eyed with fear when they heard the strange noise.
Other Ways to Say: Eyes like saucers, bug-eyed, staring in terror
48. Fraidy-cat
Meaning: Someone who is easily scared or overly cautious (playful, childish term).
In a Sentence: Stop being such a fraidy-cat and come into the haunted house with us!
Other Ways to Say: Scaredy-cat, chicken, coward
49. Curl up in a ball
Meaning: To assume a defensive, protective position due to fear.
In a Sentence: During the earthquake, all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and wait for it to stop.
Other Ways to Say: Cower in fear, huddle up, take cover
50. Anxiety-ridden
Meaning: Heavily burdened or overwhelmed by anxious feelings and worries.
In a Sentence: I was anxiety-ridden for weeks before my driving test.
Other Ways to Say: Worry-filled, stress-filled, plagued by anxiety
51. Frightened out of one’s mind
Meaning: So scared that rational thinking becomes nearly impossible.
In a Sentence: The thunder and lightning frightened the dog out of his mind.
Other Ways to Say: Scared witless, terrified beyond reason, petrified
52. Cowering in fear
Meaning: Crouching or hunching down to make oneself small due to fright.
In a Sentence: The puppy was cowering in fear behind the couch during the fireworks.
Other Ways to Say: Cringing in terror, shrinking back, hiding in fear
53. Weak-kneed
Meaning: Lacking strength or resolve due to fear; feeling physically weakened by fright.
In a Sentence: The near-miss accident left me feeling weak-kneed and shaky.
Other Ways to Say: Weak at the knees, feeble, unsteady
54. Alarmed
Meaning: Suddenly worried or frightened by something unexpected or threatening.
In a Sentence: I was alarmed to discover someone had been in my apartment while I was away.
Other Ways to Say: Startled, frightened, disturbed
55. Run screaming
Meaning: To flee from something in obvious terror, often literally screaming.
In a Sentence: If I ever see a tarantula in my house, I’ll run screaming to the neighbors.
Other Ways to Say: Flee in terror, run in panic, bolt in fright
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Idioms for Scared
1. What does the idiom “scared stiff” mean?
A) To be slightly nervous about something
B) So frightened that you can’t move
C) To have a stiff neck from tension
D) To pretend to be scared
Answer: B) So frightened that you can’t move
2. Which idiom describes trembling uncontrollably due to fear?
A) Shake like a leaf
B) Jump out of one’s skin
C) Break out in a cold sweat
D) Run for the hills
Answer: A) Shake like a leaf
3. If someone has their “heart in their mouth,” they are feeling:
A) Hungry and anxious
B) Extremely anxious or frightened
C) Romantic emotions
D) Physical pain
Answer: B) Extremely anxious or frightened
4. What happens when your “blood runs cold”?
A) You develop a fever
B) You feel a sudden chill due to extreme fear
C) You become very angry
D) You feel physically cold
Answer: B) You feel a sudden chill due to extreme fear
5. Which idiom means to become extremely pale due to fear or shock?
A) Red as a tomato
B) Blue in the face
C) White as a sheet
D) Green with envy
Answer: C) White as a sheet
6. What does it mean to “chicken out”?
A) To raise chickens
B) To decide not to do something because you’re too scared
C) To act like a chicken
D) To overcome your fears
Answer: B) To decide not to do something because you’re too scared
7. If you have “butterflies in your stomach,” you are experiencing:
A) A stomach illness
B) Hunger pangs
C) Nervous fluttering sensations due to anxiety
D) Indigestion
Answer: C) Nervous fluttering sensations due to anxiety
8. What does the idiom “get cold feet” mean?
A) To walk barefoot in winter
B) To suddenly become too nervous to do something planned
C) To have poor circulation
D) To feel physically cold
Answer: B) To suddenly become too nervous to do something planned
9. Someone who is “like a deer in headlights” is:
A) Running very fast
B) Frozen and unable to react appropriately
C) Looking for something in the dark
D) Very alert and aware
Answer: B) Frozen and unable to react appropriately
10. What does “hair-raising” describe?
A) A good hair day
B) Something extremely frightening
C) A hair styling technique
D) Morning routine activities
Answer: B) Something extremely frightening
11. If you “didn’t sleep a wink,” you:
A) Slept with one eye open
B) Were unable to sleep at all
C) Slept very well
D) Took a short nap
Answer: B) Were unable to sleep at all
12. What does it mean to be “on edge”?
A) To be standing on a cliff
B) To be nervous and easily startled
C) To be very sharp and focused
D) To be fashionable
Answer: B) To be nervous and easily startled
13. A “scaredy-cat” is someone who is:
A) Afraid of cats
B) Easily frightened or overly timid
C) Very brave
D) A cat owner
Answer: B) Easily frightened or overly timid
14. What does “sweating bullets” mean?
A) To work very hard
B) To be in a dangerous situation
C) To sweat profusely due to extreme nervousness
D) To exercise intensely
Answer: C) To sweat profusely due to extreme nervousness
15. If someone is “petrified,” they are:
A) Turned into stone
B) So frightened they become unable to move
C) Very excited
D) Studying geology
Answer: B) So frightened they become unable to move
16. What does “spine-tingling” describe?
A) A back massage
B) A medical condition
C) Something causing a shivering sensation due to fear
D) Good posture
Answer: C) Something causing a shivering sensation due to fear
17. Someone who is “afraid of their own shadow” is:
A) Scared of the dark only
B) Extremely timid and frightened of everything
C) Superstitious
D) Avoiding sunlight
Answer: B) Extremely timid and frightened of everything
18. What does “lose one’s nerve” mean?
A) To have a medical problem
B) To become too frightened to continue with a planned action
C) To become angry
D) To forget something important
Answer: B) To become too frightened to continue with a planned action
19. If your “stomach is in knots,” you are feeling:
A) Hungry
B) Anxious tension in your stomach
C) Sick from bad food
D) Full after a meal
Answer: B) Anxious tension in your stomach
20. What does “bone-chilling” mean?
A) Cold weather
B) A medical diagnosis
C) So frightening it seems to penetrate to your bones
D) A type of exercise
Answer: C) So frightening it seems to penetrate to your bones
21. Someone who is “yellow-bellied” is considered:
A) Sick with jaundice
B) Cowardly or lacking courage
C) Very cheerful
D) Well-fed
Answer: B) Cowardly or lacking courage
22. What does “make one’s flesh crawl” mean?
A) To cause a skin disease
B) To make someone exercise
C) To cause a creepy feeling of fear or disgust
D) To give someone a massage
Answer: C) To cause a creepy feeling of fear or disgust
23. A “bundle of nerves” is someone who is:
A) A neurologist
B) Extremely nervous or anxious
C) Very energetic
D) Well-organized
Answer: B) Extremely nervous or anxious
24. What does it mean to be “spooked”?
A) To see a ghost
B) Frightened or made nervous suddenly
C) To play a prank
D) To celebrate Halloween
Answer: B) Frightened or made nervous suddenly
25. If someone’s “heart skips a beat,” they experience:
A) A heart attack
B) A sudden moment of fear, shock, or surprise
C) Falling in love
D) Irregular heartbeat requiring medical attention
Answer: B) A sudden moment of fear, shock, or surprise
26. What does “gut-wrenching” describe?
A) A stomach exercise
B) Causing intense emotional distress or fear
C) A digestive problem
D) A wrestling move
Answer: B) Causing intense emotional distress or fear
27. Someone who is “terror-stricken” is:
A) Struck by lightning
B) Overwhelmed by extreme fear
C) Very surprised
D) Having a stroke
Answer: B) Overwhelmed by extreme fear
28. What does “run for the hills” mean?
A) To go hiking
B) To flee quickly from danger
C) To exercise outdoors
D) To move to the countryside
Answer: B) To flee quickly from danger
29. If you’re “weak at the knees,” you feel:
A) Need to exercise more
B) Physically unsteady due to fear or emotion
C) Tired from standing
D) A medical problem
Answer: B) Physically unsteady due to fear or emotion
30. What does “cowering in fear” mean?
A) Working on a farm
B) Crouching down to make oneself small due to fright
C) Being brave
D) Standing tall
Answer: B) Crouching down to make oneself small due to fright
Wrapping Up
Fear may be a natural human emotion, but that doesn’t mean we have to describe it in boring ways! These 55 idioms give you a colorful palette to paint pictures of fright, from mild nervousness to absolute terror. Whether you’re writing creatively, chatting with friends, or just want to express yourself more vividly, these expressions will help you communicate fear in ways that are both clear and entertaining. So the next time you’re scared stiff or shaking like a leaf, you’ll have plenty of fun ways to say so!
Tony James is a skilled writer with over 5 years of experience specializing in the “noun” niche. He delves deep into the intricacies of language, exploring the significance and usage of nouns in everyday communication. Tony’s work simplifies complex linguistic concepts, making them accessible and engaging for readers of all backgrounds.