scare the dickens out of (one)
scare the dickens out of (one)
To shock or frighten one very suddenly or severely. "Dickens" is a euphemism for "devil." Don't sneak up on me like that—you scared the dickens out of me! The sound of the fire alarm scared the dickens out of us this morning.
See also: dickens, of, out, scare
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- what (in) the dickens
- the dickens
- raise the dickens
- raise the dickens with (someone or something)
- blood from a stone/turnip, one can't get
- dickens
- (as) hot as the dickens
- Barkis is willin'
- scrooge
- like the dickens