Feeling afraid is something everyone experiences at different times. It’s a normal emotion, but sometimes we use special phrases called idioms to talk about being afraid. These idioms make our language more interesting and help us express our feelings in different ways. Idioms can show that someone is scared without directly saying it. For example, when someone says they’re “scared stiff,” they mean they’re so frightened they can’t move.
In this article, we will explore different idioms that describe the feeling of being afraid. By learning these phrases, you will understand how to use them in your everyday conversations. You will also get to practice using these idioms, making your speech more colorful and fun!
Idioms for Afraid
1. Afraid of your own shadow
Meaning: Very easily scared
Example: Jamie got so nervous during the storm ,she’s afraid of her own shadow. / He jumped when he saw his reflection.
Put Differently: Jamie is easily frightened. / He scares very quickly.
2. Shake like a leaf
Meaning: Tremble with fear
Example: I was shaking like a leaf before the spelling bee. / She shook like a leaf when the dog barked.
Put Differently: I was really scared before the contest. / She looked very frightened.
3. Get cold feet
Meaning: Suddenly feel nervous or scared
Example: I got cold feet before my piano recital. / He got cold feet before jumping in the pool.
Put Differently: I got too nervous to do it. / He backed out because he was scared.
4. Scare the living daylights out of
Meaning: Frighten someone a lot
Example: The haunted house scared the living daylights out of me. / That loud noise scared the living daylights out of Max.
Put Differently:I was super scared at the haunted house. / Max was very frightened by the sound.
5. Chicken out
Meaning: To not do something because you’re too scared.
Example: I was going to skate, but I chickened out. / She chickened out of the haunted house. Put Differently: I got scared and didn’t do it. / She backed out because she was afraid.
6. Jump out of your skin
Meaning: To be very surprised or scared
Example: I almost jumped out of my skin when the balloon popped. / She jumped out of her skin when the door slammed.
Put Differently: I was really startled. / She got scared all of a sudden.
7. Heart in your mouth
Meaning: Feeling very nervous or scared
Example: My heart was in my mouth during the scary movie. / He had his heart in his mouth before the test.
Put Differently: I felt very tense. / He was really anxious.
8. Scared stiff
Meaning: Too scared to move
Example: I was scared stiff when I saw the snake. / She was scared stiff in the dark basement.
Put Differently: I couldn’t move because I was scared. / She froze from fear.
9. Break out in a cold sweat
Meaning: Get really nervous or scared
Example: I broke out in a cold sweat before giving my speech. / He broke out in a cold sweat when he got lost.
Put Differently:I felt scared and sweaty. / He panicked.
10. Spooked
Meaning: Suddenly frightened
Example: The cat got spooked by the vacuum. / I got spooked when I heard footsteps behind me.
Put Differently: The cat got scared. / I felt nervous.
11. Butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous
Example: I had butterflies in my stomach before the tryout. / She had butterflies before meeting the principal.
Put Differently: I felt nervous. / She felt a bit shaky inside.
12. Lose your nerve
Meaning: Decide not to do something because of fear
Example: I wanted to sing on stage, but I lost my nerve. / He lost his nerve right before skydiving.
Put Differently: I backed out because I got scared. / He changed his mind because he was afraid.
13. Scaredy-cat
Meaning: A person who gets scared easily
Example: Don’t be a scaredy-cat just go down the slide! / My brother is a scaredy-cat around bugs.
Put Differently: Don’t be so afraid. / My brother is easily scared.
14. Run for your life
Meaning: Run away because you’re really scared
Example: We ran for our lives when the bees came. / He ran for his life when the dog barked.
Put Differently: We ran because we were scared. / He got really frightened.
15. Eyes wide as saucers
Meaning: Eyes open wide in fear or surprise
Example: Her eyes were wide as saucers when she saw the spider. / His eyes were wide as saucers in the dark room.
Put Differently: She looked really shocked. / He looked very scared.
16. Frozen with fear
Meaning: Too scared to move
Example: I stood frozen with fear when I saw the clown. / She was frozen with fear during the storm.
Put Differently:I couldn’t move because I was scared. / She didn’t move at all.
17. Goosebumps
Meaning: A feeling of fear or chill
Example: I got goosebumps hearing the ghost story. / The creepy music gave me goosebumps.
Put Differently: I felt a chill from fear. / The story scared me a little.
18. Panic attack
Meaning: A sudden, strong fear
Example: I had a panic attack before the test. / He had a panic attack when he got stuck in the elevator.
Put Differently: I got overwhelmed with fear. . / He felt out of control.
19. Scared out of your mind
Meaning: Extremely frightened
Example: I was scared out of my mind during the thunderstorm. / She was scared out of her mind in the haunted house.
Put Differently: I was very afraid. / She felt terrified.
20. Have the jitters
Meaning: Feel nervous or anxious
Example: I had the jitters before my big game. / She had the jitters before the spelling test.
Put Differently: I felt jumpy. / She was feeling nervous.
21. Hair stands on end
Meaning: Feeling frightened or creeped out
Example: My hair stood on end when I heard the scream. / That scary story made my hair stand on end.
Put Differently: I felt really creeped out. / It scared me.
22. Turn white as a sheet
Meaning: Lose color in your face from fear
Example: He turned white as a sheet when he saw the snake. / I turned white as a sheet during the earthquake.
Put Differently: He looked super scared. / I was very frightened.
23. Have a cow
Meaning: Overreact or get really scared
Example: Don’t have a cow, it’s just a bug. / She had a cow when she saw the broken window.
Put Differently: Don’t get so upset. / She panicked too much.
24. Get the creeps
Meaning: Feel nervous or uncomfortable
Example: That old house gave me the creeps. / I get the creeps when I walk past the woods at night.
Put Differently: I felt uneasy. / It made me nervous.
25. A bundle of nerves
Meaning: Very anxious
Example: I was a bundle of nerves before my audition. / She’s a bundle of nerves before every game.
Put Differently: I was extremely nervous. / She gets really worried.
26. Quaking in your boots
Meaning: Very scared
Example: He was quaking in his boots during the thunder. / I was quaking in my boots at the dentist’s office.
Put Differently: He was really frightened. / I was shaking from fear.
27. On edge
Meaning: Nervous or uneasy
Example: I’ve been on edge all day before my report. / He was on edge while waiting for the phone call.
Put Differently: I felt nervous all day. / He couldn’t relax.
28. Don’t have the stomach for it
Meaning: Too afraid or nervous to handle something
Example: I don’t have the stomach for horror movies. / She doesn’t have the stomach for scary rides.
Put Differently: I can’t handle scary things. / She’s not brave enough for it.
29. Freak out
Meaning: Become very scared or upset
Example: I freaked out when the fire alarm rang. / She freaked out when she saw the clown.
Put Differently: I panicked. / She got really scared.
30. Spineless
Meaning: Lacking courage
Example: He’s too spineless to watch scary movies. / I felt spineless for not speaking up.
Put Differently: He’s easily scared. / I didn’t feel brave.
31. Give someone the heebie-jeebies
Meaning: Make someone feel nervous or scared
Example: That basement gives me the heebie-jeebies. / Old dolls give my sister the heebie-jeebies.
Put Differently: The basement creeps me out. / The dolls scare her.
32. Turn to jelly
Meaning: Feel weak from fear
Example: My legs turned to jelly before my turn on stage. / I turned to jelly when I saw the big dog.
Put Differently: I felt weak from fear. / I was too scared to move well.
33. Goosey
Meaning: Nervous and jumpy
Example: I felt goosey walking through the woods. / He got goosey when the power went out.
Put Differently: I was jittery. / He got nervous.
34. On pins and needles
Meaning: Anxiously waiting
Example: I was on pins and needles waiting for my grade. / She was on pins and needles before her turn.
Put Differently: I was really nervous. / She felt jumpy.
35. Weak in the knees
Meaning: Feel nervous or afraid
Example: I felt weak in the knees during my first speech. / He was weak in the knees when he saw the roller coaster.
Put Differently: I felt wobbly from fear. / He got nervous.
36. Shaky
Meaning: Feeling scared or nervous
Example: I was shaky when I forgot my lines. / She was shaky before the game started.
Put Differently: I felt unsure and scared. / She was nervous.
37. Lose your cool
Meaning: Panic or freak out
Example: I lost my cool when I got stuck in the elevator. / He lost his cool when he saw the snake.
Put Differently: I panicked. / He got really scared.
38. Like a deer in headlights
Meaning: So scared you can’t move or speak
Example: I froze like a deer in headlights during my speech. / She looked like a deer in headlights when the teacher called her name.
Put Differently: I was stuck because I was scared. / She couldn’t respond.
39. Feel trapped
Meaning: Feel stuck and afraid
Example: I felt trapped in the small room during the storm. / He felt trapped in the crowd.
Put Differently: I couldn’t get out and got scared. / He didn’t feel safe.
40. Tremble in fear
Meaning: Shake because of fear
Example: I trembled in fear during the scary story. / She was trembling in fear during the thunderstorm.
Put Differently: I shook from being scared. / She was really frightened.
“Rewrite the Sentence” Activity: Idioms for Afraid
Below are 10 simple sentences about being afraid. Your task is to rewrite each sentence using an idiom related to fear or being afraid. Make sure the new sentence still makes sense and sounds natural.
Sentences to Rewrite
- I felt scared when I heard the loud thunder.
- She was terrified when the dog barked loudly at her.
- I froze when I saw the spider crawling toward me.
- He was so nervous before the test that he couldn’t sit still.
- I felt worried when I had to speak in front of the class.
- The dark alley made me feel uneasy and scared.
- She jumped when she saw the surprise in the movie.
- I was so frightened that I couldn’t speak.
- His voice shook because he was scared to present.
- I was afraid of the roller coaster, but I still got on.
Answer Key
- I was scared stiff when I heard the loud thunder.
- She was shaking in her boots when the dog barked loudly at her.
- I froze in my tracks when I saw the spider crawling toward me.
- He was a bundle of nerves before the test and couldn’t sit still.
- I felt butterflies in my stomach when I had to speak in front of the class.
- The dark alley sent a chill down my spine, and I felt uneasy and scared.
- She jumped out of her skin when she saw the surprise in the movie.
- I was scared out of my wits and couldn’t speak.
- His voice quivered with fear because he was scared to present.
- I was scared stiff of the roller coaster, but I still got on.
Conclusion
Using idioms to talk about fear makes our language more exciting and creative. By learning these phrases, we can express our feelings in new ways and help others understand how we feel. Fear is something everyone experiences, and idioms make it easier to talk about it without saying the same thing over and over. Keep practicing these idioms, and soon you’ll be able to use them naturally in your conversations!
