give you the willies

give (one) the willies

To cause one to have a feeling of fear, dread, or squeamishness. Can we get out of here? This creepy old house is giving me the willies! Ack, seeing that tank of cockroaches gave me the willies.
See also: give, willies
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

give you the willies

INFORMAL
If something gives you the willies, it makes you feel nervous or frightened. This place gives me the willies. Living on the mountainside is enough to give anyone the willies — especially when the wolves howl.
See also: give, willies
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • give (one) the willies
  • give (one) the shivers
  • give somebody/get the shivers
  • get the shivers
  • send chills down (one's) spine
  • send shivers down (one's) spine
  • anger
  • blanch with
  • blanch with (an emotion)
  • emotion
References in periodicals archive
The sound effects alone will give you the willies. (2012/15) ***
MOVIES THE BEST OF THIS WEEK'S
IF you want someone to shiver your timbers or give you the willies, who are you gonna call?
Whata scream; As Shiverpool prepares to expand, PaddyShennan enjoys one of its spooky tours
After he left, she came over and said, "Did he give you the willies, too?
The heart of Harbin: we're two demanding, high-strung lesbians from San Francisco. She's a social worker here to unwind from an overwhelming caseload; I'm an anxious writer looking to serenely celebrate my birthday. We've brought a gym bag full of sex toys, and we're desperate to relax. But can we?
His latest, Thug Holiday, is packed full of preposterous boasts and idle threats that would give you the willies if it wasn't so comical.
Culture: Bruce is ready to rock; Trick Daddy - Thug Holiday (Slip'n'Slide) HHH Various - Indian Summer (Four Recordings) HHH The Sweet - Stairway to the Stars (Castle) HH Bruce Springsteen - The Rising (Columbia) HHHH Sallyangie - Children of the Sun (Transatlantic) H
The intentions of these guys are never quite clear, but they certainly do give you the willies. There's usually a superficial friendliness.
Pad Nannies: a park monitor reference guide
If you hate snakes you are likely to find yourself cuddling up to a python and, if it's heights that give you the willies, then a bungee jump could be on the agenda.
Think of a nasty FORT