scare the life out of (one)

scare the life out of (one)

To shock or frighten one very suddenly or severely. Hyperbolically alludes to frightening one so badly as to cause them to die. Don't sneak up on me like that—you scared the life out of me! That car accident seems to have scared the life out of Janet. She's still pretty badly shaken by it.
See also: life, of, out, scare
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

frighten/scare the ˈlife out of somebody

frighten somebody very much: Don’t do that! You scared the life out of me creeping up on me like that!
See also: frighten, life, of, out, scare, somebody
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • frighten/scare somebody out of their wits
  • frighten (one) out of (one's) wits
  • frighten one out of wits
  • a candidate for a pair of wings
  • candidate
  • candidate for a pair of wings
  • drive (one) out of office
  • force (one) out of office
  • force out of office