frighten the life out of someone
Petrify them utterly
To frighten the life out of someone is to terrify them completely, to scare them so badly they feel momentarily as if their heart might stop.
The expression emphasizes the intensity of the fright rather than any literal danger.
That horror movie frightened the life out of me.
Variants include scare the life out of and, more colorfully, scare the living daylights out of.
- jump scaresSudden frightening moments
- scare the daylights out ofFrighten someone intensely
- tremblingInvoluntary shaking motion
- fearEmotional response to threat
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
bump in the night · goosebumps · sweating · cold sweat · consternation · dread · creeping dread · panic · horror · petrify · scared stiff · freezing up · white as a sheet · jumpiness · apprehension · anxiety · heart-stopping · hyperventilation
frighten the life out of someonesoothe
Gently ease discomfort
calm down · comfort · lull · pacify · tranquilize
frighten the life out of someonereassure
Ease someone's doubts
put at ease · embolden · hearten · encourage
frighten, fright, frightened, frightening, frightful, frightfully, livelihood, lifelong, someone