frighten into doing
frighten (one) into (something)
1. To scare or intimidate one into doing something. The clap of thunder frightened Katie into jumping out of her chair. The relentless snow and slippery roads frightened me into pulling over.
2. To scare or intimidate one into entering some place or thing. I had to frighten the dog back into the house—we were already running late, and she wasn't listening to any of my commands. Frighten the children into the school if you have to—just get them indoors before this storm hits.
3. To scare one into a particular emotional state. Don't let Betsy watch a horror movie—they always frighten her into a whimpering mess.
See also: frighten
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
frighten (someone or an animal) into doing something
to threaten someone or an animal into doing something. You can't frighten me into leaving! Let's try to frighten the coyotes into running away.
See also: frighten
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- frighten (one) into (something)
- frighten into
- clap out
- clap someone in jail
- clap (one) in jail
- clap (one) in irons
- frighten (one) in
- clap
- bully (one) into (something)
- bully into