Idioms are vibrant and expressive phrases that add depth and color to our language, often conveying emotions or situations in ways that literal words cannot capture. Unlike their straightforward meanings, idioms paint vivid pictures, making conversations more engaging and relatable. For those looking to understand or express fear, idioms provide a creative way to articulate this powerful emotion, whether it’s a fleeting moment of nervousness or a deep-seated dread. These expressions are commonly used in everyday life, making them valuable tools for effective communication, especially when discussing intense feelings like fear. In this blog post, we’ll explore 55 idioms related to fear, their meanings, and how to use them in sentences. Each idiom is accompanied by alternative ways to express the same idea, and we’ve included a practical exercise to help you practice and internalize these phrases. Let’s dive into the thrilling world of fear-related idioms and discover how they can enhance your ability to communicate this universal emotion!
Idioms for Fear
1. Scared stiff
Meaning: To be so frightened that you cannot move.
In a Sentence: When I heard the loud crash in the middle of the night, I was scared stiff and couldn’t get out of bed to check what it was.
Other Ways to Say: Petrified, Frozen with fear
2. Shake like a leaf
Meaning: To tremble uncontrollably due to fear.
In a Sentence: As the thunderstorm roared outside, she was shaking like a leaf, clutching her blanket tightly.
Other Ways to Say: Quake with fear, Tremble like a jelly
3. Jump out of your skin
Meaning: To be startled or extremely frightened.
In a Sentence: The sudden scream in the haunted house made me jump out of my skin, nearly dropping my flashlight.
Other Ways to Say: Get a fright, Be startled
4. Heart in your mouth
Meaning: To feel extremely nervous or scared.
In a Sentence: As I stepped onto the stage for my first speech, my heart was in my mouth, and I could barely speak.
Other Ways to Say: Butterflies in your stomach, On edge
5. Get the jitters
Meaning: To feel nervous or anxious.
In a Sentence: Before my big exam, I got the jitters and couldn’t stop fidgeting in my seat.
Other Ways to Say: Feel nervous, Be on edge
6. Scared out of your wits
Meaning: To be extremely frightened.
In a Sentence: When the car swerved dangerously close to me, I was scared out of my wits and froze in place.
Other Ways to Say: Terrified, Frightened to death
7. Have your heart skip a beat
Meaning: To feel a sudden shock or fear.
In a Sentence: Hearing footsteps behind me in the dark alley made my heart skip a beat, and I quickened my pace.
Other Ways to Say: Feel a jolt, Get a scare
8. Like a deer in headlights
Meaning: To be paralyzed with fear or shock.
In a Sentence: When the teacher called on me unexpectedly, I froze like a deer in headlights, unable to answer.
Other Ways to Say: Stunned, Frozen in fear
9. Cold feet
Meaning: To feel nervous or hesitant about doing something.
In a Sentence: I got cold feet right before my skydiving lesson and almost canceled the whole thing.
Other Ways to Say: Second thoughts, Hesitate
10. Frightened to death
Meaning: To be extremely scared.
In a Sentence: When the elevator suddenly stopped between floors, I was frightened to death and started panicking.
Other Ways to Say: Scared stiff, Terrified
11. Break out in a cold sweat
Meaning: To sweat due to fear or nervousness.
In a Sentence: The thought of giving a presentation in front of the entire school made me break out in a cold sweat.
Other Ways to Say: Sweat bullets, Get clammy
12. Blood runs cold
Meaning: To feel a sudden chill or fear.
In a Sentence: When I heard the eerie howl in the woods, my blood ran cold, and I ran back to the campsite.
Other Ways to Say: Feel chilled, Get goosebumps
13. Scared silly
Meaning: To be so frightened that you act foolishly.
In a Sentence: The horror movie was so terrifying that it scared me silly, and I spilled my popcorn everywhere.
Other Ways to Say: Freaked out, Scared witless
14. Have kittens
Meaning: To be extremely nervous or worried.
In a Sentence: My mom was having kittens when I didn’t call her after staying out late with friends.
Other Ways to Say: Be a nervous wreck, Panic
15. Hair stands on end
Meaning: To feel so scared that your hair seems to rise.
In a Sentence: The ghostly figure in the hallway made my hair stand on end, and I couldn’t move.
Other Ways to Say: Get goosebumps, Feel spooked
16. Make your skin crawl
Meaning: To feel uneasy or creeped out.
In a Sentence: The way he stared at me made my skin crawl, and I quickly left the room.
Other Ways to Say: Feel creeped out, Get the creeps
17. On pins and needles
Meaning: To be nervous or anxious about something.
In a Sentence: Waiting for the audition results had me on pins and needles for days.
Other Ways to Say: On edge, Anxious
18. Spooked out
Meaning: To be startled or frightened.
In a Sentence: The sudden noise in the attic spooked me out, and I refused to go upstairs alone.
Other Ways to Say: Freaked out, Scared
19. Get the heebie-jeebies
Meaning: To feel uneasy or nervous.
In a Sentence: That old abandoned house gives me the heebie-jeebies every time I pass by it.
Other Ways to Say: Feel uneasy, Get the creeps
20. Knees knocking
Meaning: To be so scared that your knees tremble.
In a Sentence: As I approached the principal’s office, my knees were knocking, and I could barely walk.
Other Ways to Say: Tremble with fear, Shake in your boots
21. Scared to death
Meaning: To be extremely frightened.
In a Sentence: The loud explosion nearby scared me to death, and I hid under the table.
Other Ways to Say: Terrified, Petrified
22. Butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: To feel nervous or anxious.
In a Sentence: Before my first date, I had butterflies in my stomach and couldn’t stop pacing.
Other Ways to Say: Feel nervous, Get the jitters
23. Shaking in your boots
Meaning: To be very scared or nervous.
In a Sentence: When I saw the huge dog charging at me, I was shaking in my boots.
Other Ways to Say: Tremble with fear, Scared stiff
24. Chicken out
Meaning: To back out of something due to fear.
In a Sentence: I was going to try bungee jumping, but I chickened out at the last moment.
Other Ways to Say: Back out, Lose your nerve
25. Freak out
Meaning: To become extremely scared or upset.
In a Sentence: When I saw a spider crawling on my arm, I freaked out and screamed loudly.
Other Ways to Say: Panic, Lose it
26. Scared witless
Meaning: To be so frightened that you can’t think clearly.
In a Sentence: The sudden blackout in the haunted house scared me witless, and I clung to my friend.
Other Ways to Say: Scared silly, Terrified
27. Lose your nerve
Meaning: To become too scared to do something.
In a Sentence: I was ready to confront my bully, but I lost my nerve when I saw him.
Other Ways to Say: Chicken out, Get cold feet
28. Panic stations
Meaning: A state of extreme fear or urgency.
In a Sentence: When the fire alarm went off, it was panic stations as everyone rushed to the exit.
Other Ways to Say: Chaos, Frenzy
29. Run for your life
Meaning: To flee from danger in fear.
In a Sentence: When we saw the bear approachingქ
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55 Idioms for Fear
Idioms are vibrant and expressive phrases that add depth and color to our language, often conveying emotions or situations in ways that literal words cannot capture. Unlike their straightforward meanings, idioms paint vivid pictures, making conversations more engaging and relatable. For those looking to understand or express fear, idioms provide a creative way to articulate this powerful emotion, whether it’s a fleeting moment of nervousness or a deep-seated dread. These expressions are commonly used in everyday life, making them valuable tools for effective communication, especially when discussing intense feelings like fear. In this blog post, we’ll explore 55 idioms related to fear, their meanings, and how to use them in sentences. Each idiom is accompanied by alternative ways to express the same idea, and we’ve included a practical exercise to help you practice and internalize these phrases. Let’s dive into the thrilling world of fear-related idioms and discover how they can enhance your ability to communicate this universal emotion!
Idioms for Fear
1. Scared stiff
Meaning: To be so frightened that you cannot move.
In a Sentence: When I heard the loud crash in the middle of the night, I was scared stiff and couldn’t get out of bed to check what it was.
Other Ways to Say: Petrified, Frozen with fear
2. Shake like a leaf
Meaning: To tremble uncontrollably due to fear.
In a Sentence: As the thunderstorm roared outside, she was shaking like a leaf, clutching her blanket tightly.
Other Ways to Say: Quake with fear, Tremble like a jelly
3. Jump out of your skin
Meaning: To be startled or extremely frightened.
In a Sentence: The sudden scream in the haunted house made me jump out of my skin, nearly dropping my flashlight.
Other Ways to Say: Get a fright, Be startled
4. Heart in your mouth
Meaning: To feel extremely nervous or scared.
In a Sentence: As I stepped onto the stage for my first speech, my heart was in my mouth, and I could barely speak.
Other Ways to Say: Butterflies in your stomach, On edge
5. Get the jitters
Meaning: To feel nervous or anxious.
In a Sentence: Before my big exam, I got the jitters and couldn’t stop fidgeting in my seat.
Other Ways to Say: Feel nervous, Be on edge
6. Scared out of your wits
Meaning: To be extremely frightened.
In a Sentence: When the car swerved dangerously close to me, I was scared out of my wits and froze in place.
Other Ways to Say: Terrified, Frightened to death
7. Have your heart skip a beat
Meaning: To feel a sudden shock or fear.
In a Sentence: Hearing footsteps behind me in the dark alley made my heart skip a beat, and I quickened my pace.
Other Ways to Say: Feel a jolt, Get a scare
8. Like a deer in headlights
Meaning: To be paralyzed with fear or shock.
In a Sentence: When the teacher called on me unexpectedly, I froze like a deer in headlights, unable to answer.
Other Ways to Say: Stunned, Frozen in fear
9. Cold feet
Meaning: To feel nervous or hesitant about doing something.
In a Sentence: I got cold feet right before my skydiving lesson and almost canceled the whole thing.
Other Ways to Say: Second thoughts, Hesitate
10. Frightened to death
Meaning: To be extremely scared.
In a Sentence: When the elevator suddenly stopped between floors, I was frightened to death and started panicking.
Other Ways to Say: Scared stiff, Terrified
11. Break out in a cold sweat
Meaning: To sweat due to fear or nervousness.
In a Sentence: The thought of giving a presentation in front of the entire school made me break out in a cold sweat.
Other Ways to Say: Sweat bullets, Get clammy
12. Blood runs cold
Meaning: To feel a sudden chill or fear.
In a Sentence: When I heard the eerie howl in the woods, my blood ran cold, and I ran back to the campsite.
Other Ways to Say: Feel chilled, Get goosebumps
13. Scared silly
Meaning: To be so frightened that you act foolisly.
In a Sentence: The horror movie was so terrifying that it scared me silly, and I spilled my popcorn everywhere.
Other Ways to Say: Freaked out, Scared witless
14. Have kittens
Meaning: To be extremely nervous or worried.
In a Sentence: My mom was having kittens when I didn’t call her after staying out late with friends.
Other Ways to Say: Be a nervous wreck, Panic
15. Hair stands on end
Meaning: To feel so scared that your hair seems to rise.
In a Sentence: The ghostly figure in the hallway made my hair stand on end, and I couldn’t move.
Other Ways to Say: Get goosebumps, Feel spooked
16. Make your skin crawl
Meaning: To feel uneasy or creeped out.
In a Sentence: The way he stared at me made my skin crawl, and I quickly left the room.
Other Ways to Say: Feel creeped out, Get the creeps
17. On pins and needles
Meaning: To be nervous or anxious about something.
In a Sentence: Waiting for the audition results had me on pins and needles for days.
Other Ways to Say: On edge, Anxious
18. Spooked out
Meaning: To be startled or frightened.
In a Sentence: The sudden noise in the attic spooked me out, and I refused to go upstairs alone.
Other Ways to Say: Freaked out, Scared
19. Get the heebie-jeebies
Meaning: To feel uneasy or nervous.
In a Sentence: That old abandoned house gives me the heebie-jeebies every time I pass by it.
Other Ways to Say: Feel uneasy, Get the creeps
20. Knees knocking
Meaning: To be so scared that your knees tremble.
In a Sentence: As I approached the principal’s office, my knees were knocking, and I could barely walk.
Other Ways to Say: Tremble with fear, Shake in your boots
21. Scared to death
Meaning: To be extremely frightened.
In a Sentence: The loud explosion nearby scared me to death, and I hid under the table.
Other Ways to Say: Terrified, Petrified
22. Butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: To feel nervous or anxious.
In a Sentence: Before my first date, I had butterflies in my stomach and couldn’t stop pacing.
Other Ways to Say: Feel nervous, Get the jitters
23. Shaking in your boots
Meaning: To be very scared or nervous.
In a Sentence: When I saw the huge dog charging at me, I was shaking in my boots.
Other Ways to Say: Tremble with fear, Scared stiff
24. Chicken out
Meaning: To back out of something due to fear.
In a Sentence: I was going to try bungee jumping, but I chickened out at the last moment.
Other Ways to Say: Back out, Lose your nerve
25. Freak out
Meaning: To become extremely scared or upset.
In a Sentence: When I saw a spider crawling on my arm, I freaked out and screamed loudly.
Other Ways to Say: Panic, Lose it
26. Scared witless
Meaning: To be so frightened that you can’t think clearly.
In a Sentence: The sudden blackout in the haunted house scared me witless, and I clung to my friend.
Other Ways to Say: Scared silly, Terrified
27. Lose your nerve
Meaning: To become too scared to do something.
In a Sentence: I was ready to confront my bully, but I lost my nerve when I saw him.
Other Ways to Say: Chicken out, Get cold feet
28. Panic stations
Meaning: A state of extreme fear or urgency.
In a Sentence: When the fire alarm went off, it was panic stations as everyone rushed to the exit.
Other Ways to Say: Chaos, Frenzy
29. Run for your life
Meaning: To flee from danger in fear.
In a Sentence: When we saw the bear approaching the campsite, we ran for our lives and didn’t look back.
Other Ways to Say: Flee in terror, Escape quickly
30. White as a sheet
Meaning: To look pale due to fear or shock.
In a Sentence: After hearing the ghostly noise, she turned white as a sheet and grabbed my arm.
Other Ways to Say: Pale with fear, Look ashen
31. Heart in your throat
Meaning: To feel intense fear or anxiety.
In a Sentence: As the roller coaster plunged downward, my heart was in my throat, and I couldn’t stop screaming.
Other Ways to Say: Heart in your mouth, Terrified
32. Scare the living daylights out of
Meaning: To frighten someone severely.
In a Sentence: The sudden loud bang scared the living daylights out of me while I was reading quietly.
Other Ways to Say: Scare badly, Terrify
33. Like a cat on a hot tin roof
Meaning: To be extremely nervous or restless.
In a Sentence: Waiting for the doctor’s call, I was like a cat on a hot tin roof, pacing the room endlessly.
Other Ways to Say: Jumpy, On edge
34. Afraid of your own shadow
Meaning: To be overly fearful or nervous.
In a Sentence: After watching that horror movie, I was afraid of my own shadow for days.
Other Ways to Say: Easily scared, Jumpy
35. Quake in your boots
Meaning: To tremble with fear.
In a Sentence: Facing the angry crowd, I was quaking in my boots and could barely speak.
Other Ways to Say: Shake with fear, Tremble
36. On tenterhooks
Meaning: To be in a state of nervous anticipation.
In a Sentence: I was on tenterhooks waiting to hear if I got the lead role in the school play.
Other Ways to Say: On edge, Anxious
37. Scared to bits
Meaning: To be extremely frightened.
In a Sentence: The loud thunderstorm scared me to bits, and I hid under the covers all night.
Other Ways to Say: Terrified, Scared witless
38. Get the wind up
Meaning: To become frightened or nervous.
In a Sentence: The strange noises in the old house got my wind up, and I refused to stay there.
Other Ways to Say: Get spooked, Feel scared
39. Goosebumps
Meaning: To have small bumps on your skin due to fear or excitement.
In a Sentence: The creepy story about the haunted forest gave me goosebumps that lasted for hours.
Other Ways to Say: Chills, Shivers
40. In a cold sweat
Meaning: To be sweating due to fear or anxiety.
In a Sentence: I woke up in a cold sweat after a nightmare about falling from a cliff.
Other Ways to Say: Sweaty with fear, Clammy
41. Petrified
Meaning: To be so frightened that you cannot move or think.
In a Sentence: When the snake slithered toward me, I was petrified and couldn’t take a step.
Other Ways to Say: Frozen with fear, Scared stiff
42. Have your stomach in knots
Meaning: To feel extremely nervous or worried.
In a Sentence: The thought of the final exam had my stomach in knots for the entire week.
Other Ways to Say: Feel anxious, Butterflies in your stomach
43. Frightened out of your skin
Meaning: To be extremely scared.
In a Sentence: The sudden roar of the lion frightened me out of my skin during the safari.
Other Ways to Say: Scared witless, Terrified
44. Tongue-tied
Meaning: To be unable to speak due to fear or nervousness.
In a Sentence: When I had to speak in front of the class, I was tongue-tied and could only mumble.
Other Ways to Say: Speechless, Frozen with fear
45. Scared out of your mind
Meaning: To be so frightened that you can’t think clearly.
In a Sentence: The near-miss car accident scared me out of my mind, and I couldn’t drive for hours.
Other Ways to Say: Terrified, Scared witless
46. Heart-pounding
Meaning: To feel intense fear or excitement that makes your heart beat fast.
In a Sentence: Walking through the dark forest at night was heart-pounding, and I kept looking over my shoulder.
Other Ways to Say: Thrilling, Terrifying
47. Like a rabbit caught in the headlights
Meaning: To be paralyzed with fear or shock.
In a Sentence: When the police questioned me unexpectedly, I stood there like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
Other Ways to Say: Frozen in fear, Stunned
48. Sweat bullets
Meaning: To sweat profusely due to fear or nervousness.
In a Sentence: I was sweating bullets while waiting for my turn to perform on stage.
Other Ways to Say: Break out in a cold sweat, Get clammy
49. Have the creeps
Meaning: To feel uneasy or afraid.
In a Sentence: That creepy old basement gave me the creeps, and I refused to go down there.
Other Ways to Say: Feel spooked, Get the heebie-jeebies
50. Jumpy as a cat
Meaning: To be very nervous or easily startled.
In a Sentence: After watching a scary movie, I was jumpy as a cat and flinched at every sound.
Other Ways to Say: On edge, Skittish
51. Scared to pieces
Meaning: To be extremely frightened.
In a Sentence: The sudden loud noise in the quiet house scared me to pieces, and I dropped my phone.
Other Ways to Say: Terrified, Scared witless
52. Have your blood freeze
Meaning: To feel a sudden intense fear.
In a Sentence: Hearing the news about the approaching storm made my blood freeze with worry.
Other Ways to Say: Feel chilled, Get goosebumps
53. In a flap
Meaning: To be in a state of nervous excitement or fear.
In a Sentence: I was in a flap before my first driving test, fumbling with the keys nervously.
Other Ways to Say: In a tizzy, Panicked
54. Shiver down your spine
Meaning: To feel a sudden chill or fear.
In a Sentence: The eerie silence in the abandoned building sent a shiver down my spine.
Other Ways to Say: Get goosebumps, Feel spooked
55. Yellow-bellied
Meaning: To be cowardly or afraid.
In a Sentence: He was too yellow-bellied to join us in the haunted house adventure.
Other Ways to Say: Cowardly, Chicken
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- The loud thunder made me _______ out of my skin, and I hid under the table.
- Waiting for the exam results had me on _______ and needles for hours.
- The creepy old house gave me the _______-jeebies every time I walked by it.
- When the car nearly hit me, my _______ ran cold, and I couldn’t move.
- I was _______ stiff when I heard a strange noise in the middle of the night.
- The horror movie was so scary that I was _______ to death and couldn’t sleep.
- Before my speech, I had _______ in my stomach and couldn’t stop pacing.
- The sudden growl of the dog made my _______ stand on end, and I backed away slowly.
- I was _______ out of my wits when the power went out during the storm.
- The eerie sound in the attic sent a _______ down my spine, and I ran downstairs.
- I got _______ feet before my first roller coaster ride and almost didn’t go.
- The dark forest made my _______ crawl, and I refused to go any further.
Answers:
jump, pins, heebie, blood, scared, frightened, butterflies, hair, scared, shiver, cold, skin
Conclusion
Idioms for fear offer a dynamic and engaging way to express one of the most universal human emotions, making conversations more vivid and relatable. By learning and using these 55 idioms, you can better articulate feelings of nervousness, anxiety, or outright terror in creative and impactful ways. Practice incorporating these phrases into your daily conversations, whether at school, work, or with friends, to make your communication more expressive and effective. With time, these idioms will become a natural part of your vocabulary, helping you navigate and describe the complex world of fear with confidence and flair. Keep exploring the rich world of idioms to enhance your language skills and connect with others on a deeper level.