put the fear of God into

put the fear of God in (one)

To cause one to greatly fear the potential consequences of something, such as misbehavior, typically by threats or a graphic description of such consequences. Our chemistry teacher has put the fear of God in us about fooling around near the chemicals and acids. Nearly getting hit by that car really put the fear of God in me—I'll never drive when I'm so tired ever again!
See also: fear, god, of, put

put the fear of God into (one)

To cause one to greatly fear the potential consequences of something, such as misbehavior, typically by threats or a graphic description of such consequences. Our chemistry teacher has put the fear of God into us about fooling around near the chemicals and acids.
See also: fear, god, of, put
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

put the fear of God into

Terrify someone, as in The school counselor put the fear of God into the girls when she talked about AIDS. This phrase alludes to a time when most people had a mingled feeling of dread and reverence toward the deity. [Late 1800s]
See also: fear, god, of, put
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • put the fear of God in
  • put the fear of God in (one)
  • put the fear of God in someone
  • put the fear of God into (one)
  • put the fear of God into somebody
  • put the fear of God into someone
  • more like
  • more like (something)
  • answer to the description (of)
  • answer to the description of
References in periodicals archive
I said he's put the fear of God into them but what I mean is he has drummed a spirit into them.
They don't have to be spectacular strikes but as long as he is poaching in the area he will put the fear of god into our rivals.
Crouchy will put the fear of God into them in the air.
"It is perfectly clear you put the fear of God into them and they were really frightened," he said at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Whatever view you take about Robert Kilroy-Silk - and he doesn't seem to be able to make friends easily - he has certainly sexed up Europe, and put the fear of God into the three big political parties.
They can't be allowed to put the fear of God into people and they are not going to put the fear of God into me.
Her daily rounds put the fear of God into every young nurse - and patient - as many of the older generation will testify.
While the Meath team certainly won't put the fear of God into Wicklow, I'm glad to see young players being blooded all the same.
A clip round the ear or the threat of the cane used to put the fear of God into pupils who dared step out of line.
But some of the extreme anti-farmer sentiments expressed put the fear of God into me, and there was a feeling that just the hint of a north Pembrokeshire accent would have raised eyebrows.
Tait, who has been recruited by Glamorgan for the Friends Provident T20 competition, has put the fear of God into batsmen all over the world.
Other things to put the fear of God into them would be having to get out of bed at 0600 hours on a winter morning in T-shirt and shorts for physical training.
Q: I grew up in a really deprived area and the sight of the OSD vans put the fear of God into criminals who terrorised the streets.
Yes, I'll admit it - I'm an absolute menace on the road, someone as likely to put the fear of God into my own passengers as oncoming drivers, someone who's not happy unless I'm changing down from fifth into third and burning off any milk float stupid enough to get in the way of me and my Ford Escort.
A better solution would be to put the fear of God into them through tighter rules.