frighten off

frighten off

To scare a person or an animal away from a particular place or thing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "frighten" and "off." Can you guys quit screaming at each other in the middle of the department? You're going to frighten off my 2 o'clock interview! I can do basic car repairs, but a major one like that would frighten me off, honestly. He shot his rifle in the air to frighten off the wolves.
See also: frighten, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • identify with
  • rescue from
  • rescue from (someone or something)
  • third person
  • angle
  • angling
  • not do (someone or oneself) any favors
  • ask back
  • muck out
  • involve with (someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
Firstly, the emergency vehicles only use their noisy alarms when necessary ie not on empty dual carriageways and also that ambulances have a completely different and recognisable tone so the public know this is a helpful alarm - not a high decibel wailing to frighten off burglars, speedsters, robbers and the rest.
This is normally a hotly contested race, but with Detroit City, the general second favourite for the Champion Hurdle, running off a mark of 148, there is every chance he will frighten off the opposition.
Cymuned chief executive Aran Jones added: 'I hope this scarecrow will frighten off potential colonists.'
Wildlife campaigners warn today there are fewer song birds left for them to frighten off the land.
5 How long before Theresa May erects a huge screen at Calais and beams images of Banksy's Dismaland on to it to frighten off asylum seekers?
The suits at PWC are saying that the threat by SAIC is a tactic to frighten off buyers, so it can mop up what's left at silly money.
BULLDOZERS failed to frighten off Barry residents determined to save a historic link between their homes and the town centre.
With the Sagitta Guineas meeting only 11 days away, there has been concern that the virus may frighten off foreign raiders, such as the French-trained Sagitta 1,000 Guineas favourite Six Perfections.
TOTTENHAM are set to offer midfielder Michael Brown a new three-year deal to try to frighten off Aston Villa.
It became the first to hire special workers to frighten off the vicious seabirds after a spate of nationwide attacks.
They are looking for more than pounds 8million for the player - but that will not frighten off Arsenal who, despite signing French striker Sylvain Wiltord for pounds 12.5million, have plenty of cash available following the sale of Manu Petit and Marc Overmars.
Surely that will be enough to frighten off any unwanted visitors?
Their best bid so far of pounds 6m is short of Villa's valuation of over pounds 8m but that will not frighten off Arsenal who, despite signing Sylvain Wiltord for pounds 12.5m, have a cash pile after selling Manu Petit and Marc Overmars.
For the past six years Grace Robertson has been employed to frighten off flocks of Barnacle Geese which fly in from the Arctic and destroy farmers' crops.
Ahead in the polls two years from an election, genuine threat would frighten off buyers.