be frightened to death

be frightened to death

To be very severely scared or worried. Hyperbolically alludes to having been frightened so badly as to have died from it. I was frightened to death when I thought I heard footsteps on the staircase when no one else was home. We were frightened to death when we woke up to the sound of the howler monkeys. We had no idea what it was coming from. I'm frightened to death that the tests are going to come back positive.
See also: death, frighten
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

be frightened to death

be made very alarmed and fearful. informal
See also: death, frighten
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • scared to death
  • frightened to death
  • frighten
  • scare
  • scared silly/stiff/to death, to be
  • be scared witless
  • scare someone out of their wits
  • scared out of (one's) wits
  • frighten the life out of (one)
  • frighten the life out of someone
References in periodicals archive
will be She added: "I don't think all the parents know yet - they will be frightened to death by it.