frighten

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fright|en /fr'aɪtən/ (frightens frightening frightened)
1 [VERB] V n, V n
If something or someone frightens you, they cause you to suddenly feel afraid, anxious, or nervous.
He knew that Soli was trying to frighten him, so he smiled to hide his fear...
Most children are frightened by the sight of blood.
= scare
2 [PHRASE] V inflects
If something frightens the life out of you, frightens the wits out of you, or frightens you out of your wits, it causes you to feel suddenly afraid or gives you a very unpleasant shock.
Fairground rides are intended to frighten the life out of you.frighten away
or frighten off
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you frighten away a person or animal or frighten them off, you make them afraid so that they run away or stay some distance away from you.
The fishermen said the company's seismic survey was frightening away fish...
He fired into the air, hoping that the noise would frighten them off.
= scare off
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V n P, V P n (not pron)
To frighten someone away or frighten them off means to make them nervous so that they decide not to become involved with a particular person or activity.
Building society repossessions have frightened buyers off...
The government is convinced that the bombers want to frighten away foreign investors.
= scare offfrighten off
see frighten away

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