Hello, fellas! Did you enjoy the Halloween event few days ago? In the theme of Halloween, we will talk about the idioms related to fear, nervousness, and anxiety. Here we go!
- Shake like a leaf
Meaning: to tremble violently with fear and nervousness
E.g.: “Before I went into the exam room, I was shaking like a leaf.”
- Scared stiff
Meaning: utterly terrified that one cannot move
E.g.: “He was scared stiff when the dog barked at him.”
- Send shivers down (one’s) spine
Meaning: to cause an intense feeling of fear, nervousness, exhilaration, or excitement in someone.
E.g.: “This creepy old house is sending shivers down my spine! Let’s get out from here.”
- Bated breath
Meaning: if you wait for something with bated breath, you wait in an anxious or excited way to see what’s happen next.
E.g.: “We waited with bated breath for the winner to be announced.”
- Bundle of nerves
Meaning: someone who is very nervous, anxious, or uneasy.
E.g.: “Ann is doing her college entrance exam today. She’s a bundle of nerves!”
- Break out in a cold sweat
Meaning: to begin sweating because one is nervous or frightened.
E.g.: “I get nervous at the dentist and usually break out in a cold sweat.”
- Make one’s blood run cold
Meaning: to shock or horrify someone.
E.g.: “I could tell you a horror story that would make your blood run cold.”
Source:
- Cambridge Idioms Dictionary.
-
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms
Compiled and written by @anhtiss at @EnglishTips4U on Saturday, November 3, 2017.
