give (one) a heart attack

give (one) a heart attack

1. To cause one to experience a sudden disruption in the heart's normal functioning, as due to an obstructed coronary artery. Can his medical condition actually give him a heart attack? I'm worried that the amount of stress she's been under is going to give her a heart attack one of these days.
2. By extension, a particularly frightening, jarring, or anxious experience. The sight of that car coming at me almost gave me a heart attack. Josh just about gave me a heart attack when he jumped out of the closet.
See also: attack, give, heart
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • have a heart attack
  • heart attack
  • be under control
  • run into the sand
  • raise a dust
  • go on a rampage
  • go on the rampage
  • (one's) heart's desire
  • your heart's desire
  • make the sparks fly