Language Research

scare · verb T

/sker/Full view

Word family

Nouns: scare

Adjectives: scared, scary

Verbs: scare

scare

C1 to frighten a person or animal

Dictionary example:

Sudden, loud noises scare me.

Learner example:

You may think that Universal Video has gone mad: re-editing those old-fashioned horror movies that couldn't even scare your 6-year-old sister! (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; French)

scare the hell/life/living daylights, etc. out of sb

C2 to make someone feel very frightened

Dictionary example:

You scared the life out of me, creeping up on me like that!

Learner example:

Such gory details scared the living daylights out of each parent in town and, soon after the second dead girl was found, [one] Mary Joe Chavez, supposedly another high-school genius, a [state of] emergency was proclaimed and a thorough investigation followed, proving to be in vain, despite all the effort put into it. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Portuguese)

scare sb/sth away/off or scare away/off sb/sth

C1 to make a person or an animal so frightened that they go away

Dictionary example:

She scared off her attacker by screaming.

Learner example:

For example, in the Ionian Islands, people break pots on Friday night in order to scare away evil spirits. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Greek)

scare sb away/off or scare away/off sb

C1 to make someone worried about doing something or going somewhere so that they decide not to do it or go there

Dictionary example:

The recent bomb attacks have scared away the tourists.

Learner example:

During the dance display and horse show we actually did experience some rainfall, however it was a small shower and it didn't manage to scare off the people and to prevent the organi[z]ers from reaching their main goal. (Certificate in Advanced English; C1; Polish)