Scare, annoy, etc. the hell out of somebody
phrase
To intensely frighten or disturb someone.
The loud thunder scared the hell out of me.
Often appears as...
- scare the hell out of
- frightened the hell out of
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
phrase
To strongly irritate or bother someone.
His constant humming annoys the hell out of me.
Often appears as...
- annoys the hell out of
- irritates the hell out of
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
phrase
To intensely frighten or disturb someone.
The loud thunder scared the hell out of me.
Often appears as...
- scare the hell out of
- frightened the hell out of
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
phrase
To strongly irritate or bother someone.
His constant humming annoys the hell out of me.
Often appears as...
- annoys the hell out of
- irritates the hell out of
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Intensity Emphasis
The phrase exaggerates the feeling to show a very strong reaction.
When the spider dropped from the ceiling, it scared the hell out of Sara.
Pro Tip 2/3Colloquial Usage
Used mainly in informal situations among friends or in storytelling.
I love telling ghost stories that scare the hell out of my friends around the campfire.
Pro Tip 3/3Emotional Weight
It adds emotion and color to a story, showing a personal experience.
His unexpected appearance at the party scared the hell out of me.
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