Be frightened/scared/terrified out of your wits
phrase
To be extremely frightened or scared.
After watching the horror movie, she was frightened out of her wits.
Often appears as...
- almost frightened out of your wits
- quite frightened out of your wits
Usage tips
Idiomatic
phrase
To be extremely frightened or scared.
After watching the horror movie, she was frightened out of her wits.
Often appears as...
- almost frightened out of your wits
- quite frightened out of your wits
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Intensity
The phrase expresses an extremely high level of fear, beyond just being scared.
Hearing the strange noises at night, he was terrified out of his wits.
Pro Tip 2/3Hyperbolic Expression
This phrase is usually an exaggeration, not to be taken literally but to stress the fear felt.
When the thunderstorm hit, we were frightened out of our wits.
Pro Tip 3/3Informal Usage
Mostly used in casual conversation or creative writing, not in formal settings.
She texted me that she was scared out of her wits during the roller coaster ride.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Intensity
The phrase expresses an extremely high level of fear, beyond just being scared.
Hearing the strange noises at night, he was terrified out of his wits.
Pro Tip 2/3Hyperbolic Expression
This phrase is usually an exaggeration, not to be taken literally but to stress the fear felt.
When the thunderstorm hit, we were frightened out of our wits.
Pro Tip 3/3Informal Usage
Mostly used in casual conversation or creative writing, not in formal settings.
She texted me that she was scared out of her wits during the roller coaster ride.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Intensity
The phrase expresses an extremely high level of fear, beyond just being scared.
Hearing the strange noises at night, he was terrified out of his wits.
Pro Tip 2/3Hyperbolic Expression
This phrase is usually an exaggeration, not to be taken literally but to stress the fear felt.
When the thunderstorm hit, we were frightened out of our wits.
Pro Tip 3/3Informal Usage
Mostly used in casual conversation or creative writing, not in formal settings.
She texted me that she was scared out of her wits during the roller coaster ride.
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