Sometimes people feel afraid. It can happen during a thunderstorm, before a big test, or when watching a scary movie. Being afraid is a normal feeling, and everyone feels it now and then. But people don’t always say, “I’m scared.” They use special sayings to show fear in different ways.
These sayings are called idioms. Idioms are phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. They help us understand feelings in a fun and simple way. In this article, we will look at idioms that people use when they are afraid. These idioms will help you talk about fear in new and interesting ways.
Idioms for Afraid
1. Scared stiff
Meaning: To be extremely frightened.
For Example: She was scared stiff when the dog barked loudly behind her.
Alternatively: Terrified / Frozen with fear.
2. Jump out of your skin
Meaning: To be very surprised or scared.
For Example: I nearly jumped out of my skin when the loud noise came from the kitchen.
Alternatively: Startled / Shocked.
3. Shaking in your boots
Meaning: To be very frightened, often visibly trembling.
For Example: He was shaking in his boots during the scary movie.
Alternatively: Trembling / Nervous.
4. Heart in your mouth
Meaning: Feeling extremely scared or nervous.
For Example: My heart was in my mouth as the rollercoaster went down.
Alternatively: Fearful / Anxious.
5. Frozen in fear
Meaning: Unable to move because of fear.
For Example: I was frozen in fear when I saw the spider.
Alternatively: Paralyzed / Stuck.
6. Scared out of your wits
Meaning: To be very frightened, almost to the point of losing your senses.
For Example: He was scared out of his wits when he heard a noise in the attic.
Alternatively: Terrified / Alarmed.
7. Get cold feet
Meaning: To become afraid to do something, especially at the last moment.
For Example: I was about to speak at the event, but I got cold feet and couldn’t do it.
Alternatively: Nervous / Hesitant.
8. Be on edge
Meaning: To feel nervous or worried.
For Example: I was on edge all night before the big test.
Alternatively: Jumpy / Anxious.
9. A bundle of nerves
Meaning: To feel very nervous or afraid.
For Example: She was a bundle of nerves before her performance.
Alternatively: Tense / Worrying.
10. Tremble in your shoes
Meaning: To shake or feel fear, usually because of anxiety.
For Example: I could feel him tremble in his shoes as he entered the dark room.
Alternatively: Nervous / Anxious.
11. Afraid of your own shadow
Meaning: To be extremely fearful, even of harmless things.
For Example: She’s so afraid of her own shadow that she jumps at every little noise.
Alternatively: Overly fearful / Easily frightened.
12. Sweating bullets
Meaning: To be very nervous or scared, often due to fear.
For Example: He was sweating bullets before his big speech.
Alternatively: Nervous / Anxious.
13. A scaredy-cat
Meaning: A person who is easily frightened.
For Example: Don’t be such a scaredy-cat; it’s just a harmless bug!
Alternatively: Coward / Timid.
14. Shiver down your spine
Meaning: To feel a sudden fear or thrill.
For Example: The creepy sound gave me a shiver down my spine.
Alternatively: Chilled / Terrified.
15. Jump at shadows
Meaning: To be excessively afraid or nervous, especially about imaginary dangers.
For Example: She jumps at shadows every time she’s alone in the dark.
Alternatively: Overly cautious / Anxious.
16. In cold sweat
Meaning: To feel fear or anxiety that makes you sweat.
For Example: He woke up in a cold sweat after having a nightmare.
Alternatively: Nervous / Anxious.
17. Break out in a cold sweat
Meaning: To suddenly start sweating because of fear.
For Example: I broke out in a cold sweat when I saw the dog growling.
Alternatively: Nervous / Scared.
18. Be scared to death
Meaning: To be extremely frightened.
For Example: She was scared to death when she saw the horror movie.
Alternatively: Terrified / Frightened.
19. Clammy hands
Meaning: Sweaty or damp hands due to fear or nervousness.
For Example: He had clammy hands when he was about to speak in front of the class.
Alternatively: Nervous / Sweaty.
20. Creeped out
Meaning: To feel uncomfortable or scared, often due to something spooky.
For Example: That old house really creeped me out.
Alternatively: Unsettled / Spooked.
21. Terrified out of your mind
Meaning: To be extremely frightened or scared.
For Example: She was terrified out of her mind when she heard footsteps behind her.
Alternatively: Frightened / Horrified.
22. Have butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: To feel nervous or anxious.
For Example: I had butterflies in my stomach before the big test.
Alternatively: Nervous / Jittery.
23. Fear the worst
Meaning: To think that something bad will happen.
For Example: He feared the worst when he didn’t hear from her all day.
Alternatively: Worried / Anxious.
24. Have a sinking feeling
Meaning: To feel uneasy or scared about something.
For Example: I had a sinking feeling when I realized I lost my keys.
Alternatively: Uneasy / Nervous.
25. Scared stiff
Meaning: Extremely frightened, unable to move.
For Example: I was scared stiff when I saw the ghost in the hallway.
Alternatively: Terrified / Frozen.
26. A nervous wreck
Meaning: Someone who is extremely nervous or afraid.
For Example: She was a nervous wreck before her presentation.
Alternatively: Anxious / Jittery.
27. Afraid to blink
Meaning: Extremely nervous or fearful, especially during something tense.
For Example: I was afraid to blink while watching the suspenseful movie.
Alternatively: Tense / Nervous.
28. Under your skin
Meaning: To feel uneasy or bothered, often due to fear.
For Example: The strange noise under my bed got under my skin.
Alternatively: Unsettled / Disturbed.
29. Scared of your own reflection
Meaning: To be afraid of something that is harmless or self-inflicted.
For Example: He was so nervous, he was even scared of his own reflection.
Alternatively: Fearful / Anxious.
30. On tenterhooks
Meaning: To be in a state of nervous or anxious suspense.
For Example: She was on tenterhooks waiting for the results of her audition.
Alternatively: Jumpy / Nervous.
31. In the grip of fear
Meaning: To be completely controlled or overwhelmed by fear.
For Example: He was in the grip of fear as the storm raged outside.
Alternatively: Terrified / Overcome.
32. Have the jitters
Meaning: To feel nervous or anxious, especially before something big.
For Example: I had the jitters before my first school play.
Alternatively: Anxious / Nervous.
33. Get the heebie-jeebies
Meaning: To feel uneasy or afraid.
For Example: The creepy music in the haunted house gave me the heebie-jeebies.
Alternatively: Creeped out / Nervous.
34. Lose your nerve
Meaning: To become too afraid to do something you were planning.
For Example: She lost her nerve and couldn’t go on the rollercoaster.
Alternatively: Chicken out / Back down.
35. A bundle of nerves
Meaning: Someone who is extremely nervous or afraid.
For Example: He was a bundle of nerves before the big game.
Alternatively: Jittery / On edge.
36. Shake like a leaf
Meaning: To shake because of fear or nervousness.
For Example: He shook like a leaf when the teacher called on him.
Alternatively: Tremble / Quiver.
37. To be scared stiff
Meaning: To be unable to move because of fear.
For Example: She was scared stiff when she saw the dark shadow.
Alternatively: Frozen / Terrified.
38. To feel a chill down your spine
Meaning: To feel fear or a creepy sensation.
For Example: The sound of the door creaking gave me a chill down my spine.
Alternatively: Shivers / Creeped out.
39. Afraid of your own shadow
Meaning: To be overly fearful, even of harmless things.
For Example: He’s so afraid of his own shadow that he jumps at every little sound.
Alternatively: Easily frightened / Timid.
40. Scared to death
Meaning: To be extremely scared.
For Example: I was scared to death when I heard the strange noise at night.
Alternatively: Terrified / Frightened.
True/False Quiz: Idioms for Afraid
- If someone is “scared stiff,” they are very excited.
True / False - “Jump out of your skin” means to be very surprised or scared.
True / False - “Shaking in your boots” means you are calm and relaxed.
True / False - If your “heart is in your mouth,” you feel nervous or frightened.
True / False - “Frozen in fear” means to be unable to move because of fear.
True / False - If someone is “scared out of their wits,” it means they are extremely frightened.
True / False - “Getting cold feet” means becoming excited about doing something.
True / False - If someone is “on edge,” they feel calm and relaxed.
True / False - “A bundle of nerves” refers to a person who is very calm.
True / False - If someone is “sweating bullets,” they are very nervous or scared.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- True
- True
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
Scoring Guide
- 10 Correct Answers: Idioms Master!
- 7–9 Correct Answers: You really get idioms nice work!
- 4–6 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about idioms together!
Conclusion
Fear is something everyone experiences, whether it’s during a scary movie, before a test, or when walking home at night. Idioms help us describe these feelings in interesting ways. By learning these idioms, you can better express how you feel and understand others when they talk about being afraid. Keep practicing these phrases, and they’ll become part of your everyday language, helping you talk about fear in new ways.
