frighten/scare (someone) to death

to make someone feel very frightened.

David suddenly appeared in the doorway and scared me to death.

• the cart before the horse
• the casting couch
• the center of attention
• the change of life
• the chattering classes
• the child from hell
• the [child/house/mother, etc.] from hell
• the chosen few
• the coast is clear
• the cock of the walk
• the comings and goings
• the common touch
• the conventional wisdom
• the corridors of power
• the cream of the crop
• the curtain comes down on
• the curtain comes down on something
• the curtain falls
• the curtain falls on
• the curtain falls on something
• the cut and thrust of
• the cut and thrust of something
• the darkest hour is just before the dawn.
• the day of reckoning
• the dead hand of