scaring the hell out of
Causing extreme fear
Scaring the hell out of someone is frightening them intensely: That movie scared the hell out of me.
The phrase uses hell as an intensifier—stronger than simply scaring someone.
Variants include scaring the shit out of, scaring the crap out of, and the milder scaring the heck out of.
- thriller genreFiction built on tension
- haunted houseDwelling believed spirit-inhabited
- bump in the nightUnexplained nighttime disturbance
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- fight or flightThreat-triggered physiological state
intimidation · horror genre · shock · psychological manipulation · terror · urban legends · grotesque imagery · dread · ghost stories · paranoia · cold sweat · threat · fright · gothic literature · anxiety · suspense · surprise · slasher films
scaring the hell out ofcalming
Inducing a settled state
soothing · reassuring · comforting · relaxing · pacifying
scaring the hell out ofdelighting
Giving intense pleasure
thrilling · cheering up · enchanting · elating · charming
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