25 Metaphors for Scared

Fear is a universal human emotion that can be triggered by various situations and circumstances.

It’s a natural response to perceived threats or dangers. Throughout history, people have used metaphors to vividly describe the feeling of being scared. These metaphors provide a colorful and relatable way to express the intensity of fear.

In this article, we will explore a variety of metaphors for being scared, delving into their meanings and providing illustrative sentences to showcase their usage.

25 metaphors for scared

Metaphors for Scared

1. Shaking like a leaf

Meaning: This metaphor compares a person’s trembling body to the trembling of a leaf, often used to describe fear or anxiety.

In a Sentence: As the thunderstorm raged outside, he sat in his dark room, shaking like a leaf.

2. Butterflies in the stomach

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of nervousness or anxiety, as if there are butterflies fluttering in one’s stomach.

In a Sentence: Before her big presentation, she had so many butterflies in her stomach that she could barely eat breakfast.

3. Heart racing

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of increased heart rate due to fear or excitement.

In a Sentence: The moment he saw the ghostly figure in the old mansion, his heart started racing like a thoroughbred.

4. Sweating bullets

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of sweating profusely due to fear or anxiety.

In a Sentence: During the intense job interview, he was sweating bullets, fearing he might say the wrong thing.

5. On edge

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being tense and anxious, as if one is balanced precariously on the edge of something.

In a Sentence: The eerie silence in the haunted house left them all on edge, waiting for something to happen.

6. Frozen with fear

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being unable to move or act due to fear.

In a Sentence: When the grizzly bear suddenly appeared on the hiking trail, she was frozen with fear, unable to take a step.

7. Choking with fear

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being unable to speak or breathe due to fear.

In a Sentence: The sight of the massive waves approaching their small boat had him choking with fear.

8. Petrified

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being turned to stone or becoming immobile due to fear.

In a Sentence: The ghostly apparition in the abandoned house left her petrified, unable to even blink.

9. Scared stiff

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being unable to move or act due to fear.

In a Sentence: The eerie noises in the dark forest had him scared stiff, rooted to the spot.

10. Jumping at shadows

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being easily startled or frightened by things that are not actually threatening.

In a Sentence: After watching a horror movie, she was jumping at shadows in her own house.

11. Scared out of one’s wits

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being extremely frightened or panicked.

In a Sentence: The sudden appearance of the ghostly figure left him scared out of his wits, screaming for help.

12. Terrified

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being extremely afraid or panicked.

In a Sentence: The loud crash in the middle of the night left her terrified, hiding under the covers.

13. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up

Meaning: This metaphor describes the physical sensation of fear, as if the hairs on the back of one’s neck are standing up in response to a perceived threat.

In a Sentence: When she heard the eerie whispering in the empty room, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up.

14. Nervous as a cat

Meaning: This metaphor compares a person’s nervous behavior to that of a cat, often used to describe anxiety or caution.

In a Sentence: He was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs during the important meeting.

15. Sick with fear

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being extremely afraid, as if one’s fear is making them physically ill.

In a Sentence: The news of the impending disaster had everyone feeling sick with fear.

16. Trembling with fear

Meaning: This metaphor describes the physical manifestation of fear, as if the person is trembling due to their fear.

In a Sentence: As the ghostly figure approached, she found herself trembling with fear, unable to control her shaking.

17. White with fear

Meaning: This metaphor describes the physical manifestation of fear, as if the person’s face has become pale due to their fear.

In a Sentence: When they saw the monstrous creature, their faces turned white with fear.

18. Scared to death

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being extremely afraid, as if one’s fear is life-threatening.

In a Sentence: The near miss with the speeding car left him scared to death, realizing how close he came to a fatal accident.

19. Frightened out of one’s mind

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being extremely afraid or panicked to the point of losing one’s senses.

In a Sentence: The haunted house was so terrifying that she felt frightened out of her mind, unable to think straight.

20. Scared to death and back

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being extremely afraid, as if one has experienced fear beyond even death.

In a Sentence: After the encounter with the supernatural entity, he felt scared to death and back, forever changed by the experience.

21. Terrified to the bone

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being extremely afraid, as if the fear has penetrated deep into one’s very being.

In a Sentence: The ghostly apparition left her terrified to the bone, unable to sleep for days.

22. Shuddering with fear

Meaning: This metaphor describes the physical manifestation of fear, as if the person is shuddering due to their fear.

In a Sentence: When they heard the ominous footsteps approaching in the darkness, they couldn’t help but shudder with fear.

23. Scared silly

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being extremely afraid or panicked to the point of acting foolishly.

In a Sentence: The sudden loud noise in the empty house made him jump and feel scared silly for overreacting.

24. Frightened out of one’s skin

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being extremely afraid or panicked, as if one’s fear is so great that it has stripped them of their skin.

In a Sentence: The unexpected encounter with the wild animal frightened him out of his skin, leaving him trembling.

25. Terror-stricken

Meaning: This metaphor describes the feeling of being extremely afraid or panicked due to terror.

In a Sentence: The sight of the approaching storm, with lightning striking all around, left them terror

-stricken and seeking shelter.

Summary

MetaphorMeaning
Shaking like a leafComparing trembling to a leaf, often used for fear or anxiety.
Butterflies in the stomachDescribes nervousness or anxiety, as if butterflies are fluttering in the stomach.
Heart racingSignifies an increased heart rate due to fear or excitement.
Sweating bulletsDescribes profuse sweating due to fear or anxiety.
On edgeFeeling tense and anxious, as if balanced precariously on the edge.
Frozen with fearBeing unable to move or act due to fear.
Choking with fearInability to speak or breathe due to fear.
PetrifiedFeeling like one is turned to stone or immobile due to fear.
Scared stiffBeing unable to move or act due to fear.
Jumping at shadowsEasily startled or frightened by non-threatening things.
Scared out of one’s witsExtremely frightened or panicked.
TerrifiedFeeling extremely afraid or panicked.
The hairs on the back of my neck stood upPhysical sensation of fear, as if the hairs on the neck are standing up.
Nervous as a catComparing nervous behavior to that of a cat, often used for anxiety or caution.
Sick with fearFeeling extremely afraid, as if fear is making one physically ill.
Trembling with fearPhysical manifestation of fear, as if one is trembling due to fear.
White with fearPhysical manifestation of fear, as if the face becomes pale due to fear.
Scared to deathFeeling extremely afraid, as if fear is life-threatening.
Frightened out of one’s mindExtremely afraid or panicked to the point of losing one’s senses.
Scared to death and backFeeling extremely afraid, as if fear surpasses even death.
Terrified to the boneFeeling extremely afraid, as if fear has penetrated deep into one’s being.
Shuddering with fearPhysical manifestation of fear, as if one is shuddering due to fear.
Scared sillyExtremely afraid or panicked to the point of acting foolishly.
Frightened out of one’s skinFeeling extremely afraid or panicked, as if fear has stripped away one’s skin.
Terror-strickenExtremely afraid or panicked due to terror.

Conclusion

Metaphors have a unique way of capturing the essence of human emotions, and when it comes to fear, they paint a vivid picture of the intense and often overwhelming sensations that can accompany it.

Whether it’s feeling like you have butterflies in your stomach or being scared stiff, these metaphors provide a colorful and relatable way to express the different facets of fear. The next time you find yourself in a spine-tingling situation, you might just find the perfect metaphor to describe your state of mind.

Scroll to Top