terrorize

terrorize (one) into (something)

1. To force or coerce one to do something through the use of fear, violence, and intimidation. Marauders have been terrorizing residents of the small town into fleeing their homes. The gangsters terrorized local business owners into paying so-called protection money.
2. To cause one to enter into some state through the use of fear, violence, and intimidation. The secret task force terrorized the hardened criminal into a blubbering mess during their interrogation. The fascist government began terrorizing its citizens into silent obedience.
See also: terrorize

terrorize (one) out of (something)

1. To cause, compel, or force one to leave something or some place through the use of fear, violence, or intimidation. Marauders have been terrorizing local residents out of their homes. The mafia terrorized local business owners out of town who refused to pay protection money.
2. To cause, compel, or force one not to do something because of violence, intimidation, or harassment. This political party has begun an organized campaign of terrorizing its opponents out of having their voices heard. The fascist government is trying to terrorize people out of forming an organized rebellion.
See also: of, out, terrorize
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

terrify someone into something

 and terrorize someone into something
to threaten or frighten someone into doing something. The salesman is just trying to terrify you into buying a new car by saying the one you have is dangerous. They tried to terrorize people into staying off the streets.
See also: terrify
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • terrorize (one) into (something)
  • terrorize (one) out of (something)
  • terrify (one) out of (something or some place)
  • strong-arm man
  • for fear of
  • for fear of (something)
  • for fear of something/of doing something
  • torture
  • torture (one) into (doing something)
  • torture into
References in periodicals archive
This is rationalized on the ground that Israel is the victim of terrorism, but does not itself terrorize, a view dutifully expounded in the mainstream media.
Wholesale terrorism escalates: the threat of genocide
Fearful that reinstating the original meaning of terrorism could endanger trade relations, the neologism terrorist state refers only to countries that support terrorist groups and not to those that actually terrorize their own people.
The word on terrorism
KARACHI, September 09, 2009 (Balochistan Times): The Provincial interior minister, Zulfiqar Mirza has taken strong notice of police, of trying to extort eidee (money gift on Eid) out of citizens under guise of snap checking, and issued strict orders for them, not to terrorize hapless public with their unnecessary show of power.
Police should avoid unnecessary show of power: Zulfiqar
On the day that three masked strangers invade the Osborne household and terrorize Jack, his sister Joanne, and their mother, Jack's life is changed forever.
Smith, Roland. Zach's lie
He is terrorizing the Albanians in Kosovo; therefore, we can terrorize the Serbs in Yugoslavia.
Their Atrocities--and Ours
Then soldiers come to the house, terrorize the family, and end up by shooting Vahan's older brothers in front of all the family, who then have to dig graves and bury them in the garden at the back of the house.
Bagdasarian, Adam. Forgotten fire, a novel
LulzSec sails into sunset as TeamP0ison terrorizes Internet
LulzSec quits, leaks data, urges support for Anonymous
LulzSec sails into sunset as TeamPoison terrorizes Internet
LulzSec shuts down: purported Pastebin document
Solomon has found a refuge in the cemetery from the schoolmaster who terrorizes any student who struggles, as Solomon does with his dyslexia.
Breslin, Theresa. Whispers in the graveyard
One tale tells of an eccentric old lady who terrorizes the town with her hedge clippers.
Short and Tall Tales