scare the hell out of
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To frighten (someone or an animal).
Register: slang, vulgar
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “scare the hell out of” mean?
To frighten (someone or an animal).
Is “scare the hell out of” formal or informal?
scare the hell out of is generally slang, vulgar.