fright

3 definitions • 6 examples

the feeling of fear, especially if felt suddenly, or an experience of fear that happens suddenly:

I lay in bed shaking with fright.

give someone a fright You gave her such a fright turning the lights out like that.

the fright of someone’s life You gave me the fright of my life (= a very severe fright), jumping out of the shadows like that!

to feel fear or anxiety:

Our dog took fright at the noise of the fireworks and ran indoors.

the feeling of fear, esp. if felt suddenly, or an experience of fear which happens suddenly:

[ U ] When the rescue team reached him, he was shaking with fright.

[ C usually sing ] You gave her a fright turning the lights out like that.