scare the shit out of
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To make someone scared shitless.
Register: slang, vulgar
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
That scared the shit out of me!
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 the shit out of” mean?
To make someone scared shitless.
Is “scare the shit out of” formal or informal?
scare the shit out of is generally slang, vulgar.