scared off
Made to flee
Scared off means frightened away or deterred from approaching or proceeding.
A loud noise might scare off a burglar; high prices scare off potential buyers.
The phrase suggests the threat or unpleasantness was enough to make someone retreat or abandon their intention: The complicated application process scared off most applicants.
We scared off the raccoons with a flashlight.
- deterPrevent through intimidation
- fleeDepart swiftly from threat
- dissuadeConvince not to
- intimidateInstill fear to control
- retreatSanctuary or withdrawal
ran away · took flight · turned tail · beat a hasty retreat · terrified · bolt · petrified · driven away · cower · flinch · scatter · scurry · repelled · spook · evade · backtrack · withdraw · abandon