scare into

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To frighten (someone) to get them to do (something).

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

John's warning scared me into getting to work on time.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “scare into” mean?

To frighten (someone) to get them to do (something).

Is “scare into” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.