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scared to death
/skeərd tuː dɛθ/◆idiom
extremely frightened
She was scared to death when she saw the ghost.
She was extremely frightened when she saw the ghost.
informal
Extremely frightened or terrified to the point of feeling overwhelmed by fear.
The loud noise scared him to death.
The loud noise terrified him completely.
I was scared to death during the horror movie.
I was extremely frightened during the horror movie.
This idiom is often used to emphasize the intensity of fear, though it does not literally mean death.
Collocations
scared to death ofextremely afraid ofscared to death byterrified by
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage Context
Use this phrase to emphasize extreme fear, but avoid using it in formal or serious contexts where literal interpretations might be confusing.
Gold Rule
Hyperbolic Meaning
Remember that 'scared to death' is a hyperbolic expression and does not imply actual death.
Word Origin
The phrase likely originated from the idea of fear being so intense that it could cause death, though this is hyperbolic and not literal.
Usage Notes
This idiom is commonly used in informal contexts to describe an overwhelming sense of fear. It is not meant to be taken literally.
Word Breakdown
scared
frightened
rootto death
to an extreme degree
phraseEnglish Dictionary