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Idioms on fear are often used to express a dangerous situation that makes one afraid. To help people express their feelings, they often use idioms like ‘Butterflies in the stomach’ and ‘Scared out of my wits’ in their day-to-day conversations. These idioms are based on the situations that arise in people’s lives where they get too scared of something. Depending on the situation, these groups of words can be used for situations of darkness, failure and so on. To help you deal with this situation, we have compiled this blog, where we will discuss some idioms on fear that you can use in your daily conversation.
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Butterflies in the Stomach
This idiom is used to describe the feeling of nervousness or excitement that often arises in stressful or anxious situations. When overwhelmed by such emotions, people experience a fluttering sensation due to hormonal changes in the body.
Example: Thinking about the annual day speech, he had butterflies in his stomach.
Shake Like a Leaf
This idiom implies the trembling feeling that one experiences, usually due to fear, nervousness, or extreme cold. This idiom paints the picture of someone shaking so violently that the resembles that of a leaf fluttering in the wind.
Example: Before coming to the stage for the performance, she was shaking like a leaf.
Also Read: Top 10 Idioms for Reading You Should Know!
Scared Out of My Wits
This idiom refers to the situation in which a person becomes very frightened due to the intense feeling that is generated within. This intense feeling resembles a person who would lose their mind in such a situation.
Example: The strange noise coming from the jungle scared me out of my wits.
Like a Deer in Headlights
This idiom implies the feeling when someone becomes confused and is unable to work properly. When a person gets frightened during a situation, they cannot focus on other things.
Example: After hearing the question from the teacher, he was like a deer in headlights.
Heart in Your Mouth
The idiom is used when you become too scared by watching anything dangerous, mysterious or horrific. Bringing the heart into your mouth is a metaphorical way of suggesting that you are utterly scared after what you have witnessed. Additionally, the fear or scary situation makes your heartbeat faster.
Example: After watching the scary scene from the horror movie, his heart came into his mouth.
Break Out in a Cold Sweat
The situation that makes you feel extremely frightened or worried. In this situation, one starts to sweat due to anxiety, physical illness or intense fear. This is another idiom to describe intense fear or nervousness.
Example: The memory of the horrific incident still makes him break out in a cold sweat.
On the Edge of One’s Seat
To become excited or anxious about something that is going to happen next. It is known that something good is going to happen next, and you are thrilled knowing it. The idiom means to give all your attention to something, as you already know what is going to take place.
Example: The excitement of watching the thrilling game of football had him on the edge of his seat.
Quaking in My Shoes
This idiom suggests that you are very afraid or nervous about something. It sarcastically means to tremble with fear. Moreover, it is the feeling that consists of a high level of nervousness that is created about something.
Example: The big danger was growling at me in such a way that I had to quake in my shoes.
Also Read: 11+ Scary Halloween Idioms and Phrases to Celebrate
Be in Fear for Your Life
The fear that occurs when there are chances that you can lose your life. It is said that when you are in extreme danger. When someone becomes anxious or afraid upon hearing the news that they may die after some time.
Example: Mary sat inside, in fear for her life, seeing the killer.
Afraid of My Own Shadow
The idiom means to get afraid of anything for no reason that is unnecessary. A person who gets scared easily by the most insignificant things. Additionally, the idiom can be used to describe a person who gets easily startled.
Example: The weak leader seems to be afraid of his own shadow during the conference.
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FAQs
The idioms on fear and anxiety are ‘Jumping out of your skin’, ‘Bundle of nerves’, ‘Heart missed a beat’, ‘My blood ran cold’, etc.
The idioms on courage are ‘Be man enough to do something’, ‘Muster something up’, ‘Pluck up courage’ etc.
A well-known quote is, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” by Franklin D. Roosevelt. It highlights how fear can be more harmful than the actual problem.
Fear is often compared to a shadow in the dark, it looks bigger and more frightening than it really is, growing stronger when we avoid facing it directly.
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This was all about the idioms on fear with meaning and example. You can also follow the Learn English page of Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs related to English grammar and the English language.
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