50 Metaphors for Scared Meaning & Sentence
Metaphors for Scared
1. Heart in Your Throat
Meaning: Feeling intense fear or anxiety that makes your heart race, as if it’s lodged in your throat.
In a Sentence: As the car swerved dangerously, my heart was in my throat.
Other Ways to Say: Choking on fear, Pulse in your throat.
2. Butterflies in the Stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous or anxious, often accompanied by a fluttery sensation in the stomach.
In a Sentence: Before her big presentation, Emily had butterflies in her stomach.
Other Ways to Say: Knots in the stomach, Fluttering in the stomach.
3. Knees Knocking
Meaning: Trembling with fear so much that your knees seem to shake or knock together.
In a Sentence: Facing the dark alley, his knees were knocking uncontrollably.
Other Ways to Say: Shaky legs, Trembling knees.
4. Blood Running Cold
Meaning: Experiencing a chilling fear that feels like your blood has turned to ice.
In a Sentence: When she heard the eerie noise, her blood ran cold.
Other Ways to Say: Ice in the veins, Chilled to the bone.
5. Heart Pounding Like a Drum
Meaning: Feeling fear so intensely that your heartbeat feels loud and rhythmic, like a drum.
In a Sentence: As the thunder roared, her heart pounded like a drum.
Other Ways to Say: Heart beating like a hammer, Thumping heart.
6. Frozen with Fear
Meaning: Being so scared that you feel paralyzed or unable to move.
In a Sentence: Seeing the bear, he was frozen with fear.
Other Ways to Say: Paralyzed with fright, Rooted to the spot.
7. Shaking Like a Leaf
Meaning: Trembling uncontrollably due to fear, like a leaf in the wind.
In a Sentence: During the horror movie, she was shaking like a leaf.
Other Ways to Say: Quivering like a leaf, Trembling like a twig.
8. Stomach in Knots
Meaning: Feeling anxious or scared, causing a tight, twisted sensation in the stomach.
In a Sentence: The thought of skydiving left his stomach in knots.
Other Ways to Say: Twisted gut, Clenched stomach.
9. Cold Sweat
Meaning: Perspiring due to fear or anxiety, often feeling clammy or chilled.
In a Sentence: Waking up from a nightmare, she was covered in a cold sweat.
Other Ways to Say: Clammy sweat, Nervous perspiration.
10. Heart Skipping a Beat
Meaning: A sudden jolt of fear that makes it feel like your heart momentarily stops.
In a Sentence: When the door slammed shut, her heart skipped a beat.
Other Ways to Say: Heart jumping, Pulse racing.
11. Jumping Out of Your Skin
Meaning: Being so startled or scared that you feel like leaping out of your body.
In a Sentence: The sudden scream made him jump out of his skin.
Other Ways to Say: Startled out of your skin, Nearly leaping.
12. Spine Tingling
Meaning: Feeling a shiver of fear or excitement run down your spine.
In a Sentence: The ghost story sent a spine-tingling chill through the room.
Other Ways to Say: Shivers down the spine, Back prickling.
13. Hair Standing on End
Meaning: Feeling so scared that the hairs on your body seem to stand upright.
In a Sentence: The eerie howl made her hair stand on end.
Other Ways to Say: Goosebumps rising, Hairs bristling.
14. Chilled to the Bone
Meaning: Feeling deeply frightened, as if the cold of fear has penetrated your bones.
In a Sentence: The ghostly figure left him chilled to the bone.
Other Ways to Say: Frozen to the core, Cold to the marrow.
15. Breath Caught in Your Chest
Meaning: Being so scared that you momentarily stop breathing or feel unable to exhale.
In a Sentence: As the shadow moved closer, her breath caught in her chest.
Other Ways to Say: Holding your breath, Air stuck in your lungs.
16. Like a Deer in Headlights
Meaning: Being so startled or scared that you freeze, unable to react.
In a Sentence: When the teacher called on him unexpectedly, he stood like a deer in headlights.
Other Ways to Say: Frozen like a statue, Stunned motionless.
17. Heart in Your Mouth
Meaning: Feeling intense fear or nervousness that makes your heart race.
In a Sentence: As the roller coaster plummeted, her heart was in her mouth.
Other Ways to Say: Heart racing, Pulse in your throat.
18. Nerves on Edge
Meaning: Being in a state of heightened anxiety or fear, feeling tense and jumpy.
In a Sentence: The spooky forest put her nerves on edge.
Other Ways to Say: Jumpy nerves, Frayed nerves.
19. Shivering in Your Boots
Meaning: Trembling with fear, as if shaking inside your shoes.
In a Sentence: Facing the angry crowd, he was shivering in his boots.
Other Ways to Say: Shaking in your shoes, Quaking in your boots.
20. Pulse Racing Like a Runaway Train
Meaning: Experiencing fear so intense that your heartbeat feels out of control.
In a Sentence: The loud crash sent his pulse racing like a runaway train.
Other Ways to Say: Heart galloping, Pulse speeding.
21. Stomach Dropping
Meaning: Feeling a sudden sinking sensation in your stomach due to fear or shock.
In a Sentence: When the plane hit turbulence, her stomach dropped.
Other Ways to Say: Gut sinking, Stomach plummeting.
22. Like a Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Meaning: Being nervous or scared, unable to stay still due to anxiety.
In a Sentence: Waiting for the test results, she was like a cat on a hot tin roof.
Other Ways to Say: Restless with fear, Jumpy as a cat.
23. Skin Crawling
Meaning: Feeling so scared or repulsed that your skin feels like it’s moving.
In a Sentence: The creepy story made her skin crawl.
Other Ways to Say: Flesh creeping, Goosebumps all over.
24. White as a Sheet
Meaning: Looking pale due to intense fear or shock.
In a Sentence: After the near-accident, his face was white as a sheet.
Other Ways to Say: Pale as a ghost, Drained of color.
25. Legs Like Jelly
Meaning: Feeling so scared that your legs feel weak and unsteady.
In a Sentence: Climbing the steep cliff, her legs turned to jelly.
Other Ways to Say: Wobbly legs, Shaky limbs.
26. Heart Hammering
Meaning: Experiencing a rapid, forceful heartbeat due to fear.
In a Sentence: Hearing footsteps behind her, her heart was hammering.
Other Ways to Say: Heart pounding, Chest thumping.
27. Caught in a Vise
Meaning: Feeling trapped or squeezed by fear, unable to escape the emotion.
In a Sentence: The terrifying news left him caught in a vise of fear.
Other Ways to Say: Gripped by fear, Squeezed by panic.
28. Like a Mouse in a Trap
Meaning: Feeling helpless and scared, as if caught with no way out.
In a Sentence: Trapped in the elevator, she felt like a mouse in a trap.
Other Ways to Say: Cornered like a rat, Trapped like prey.
29. Eyes Wide as Saucers
Meaning: Having wide-open eyes due to shock or fear.
In a Sentence: When the lion roared, his eyes were wide as saucers.
Other Ways to Say: Eyes like dinner plates, Staring in fear.
30. Breath Like a Trapped Bird
Meaning: Breathing rapidly and shallowly due to fear, like a bird fluttering in a cage.
In a Sentence: As the storm raged, her breath was like a trapped bird.
Other Ways to Say: Fluttering breath, Panicked breathing.
31. A Knot of Fear
Meaning: A tight, constricting sensation of fear in your chest or stomach.
In a Sentence: The dark cave filled him with a knot of fear.
Other Ways to Say: Ball of dread, Tightness of terror.
32. Like a Fish Out of Water
Meaning: Feeling scared and out of place, struggling to cope.
In a Sentence: At the haunted house, she felt like a fish out of water.
Other Ways to Say: Out of your element, Floundering in fear.
33. Teeth Chattering
Meaning: Trembling with fear or cold, causing your teeth to clack together.
In a Sentence: Lost in the snowy woods, his teeth were chattering.
Other Ways to Say: Jaw rattling, Teeth clattering.
34. Heart Leaping to Your Throat
Meaning: A sudden surge of fear that makes your heart feel like it’s jumping upward.
In a Sentence: The loud bang sent her heart leaping to her throat.
Other Ways to Say: Heart lurching, Pulse jumping.
35. A Cold Hand of Fear
Meaning: A chilling, gripping sensation of fear that feels like a hand clutching you.
In a Sentence: As the fog thickened, a cold hand of fear gripped her.
Other Ways to Say: Icy grip of terror, Chilling clutch.
36. Like a Rabbit in a Snare
Meaning: Feeling trapped and terrified, with no escape.
In a Sentence: Cornered by the bully, he felt like a rabbit in a snare.
Other Ways to Say: Caught like a rabbit, Trapped like a hare.
37. Pulse Like a Jackhammer
Meaning: A rapid, forceful heartbeat caused by intense fear.
In a Sentence: The ghostly figure made his pulse race like a jackhammer.
Other Ways to Say: Heart like a drill, Pulse pounding.
38. A Sinking Feeling
Meaning: A sensation of dread or fear that feels like sinking into despair.
In a Sentence: Hearing the bad news, she had a sinking feeling.
Other Ways to Say: Dropping sensation, Falling dread.
39. Like a Cornered Animal
Meaning: Feeling scared and defensive, with no way to escape.
In a Sentence: Surrounded by wolves, he felt like a cornered animal.
Other Ways to Say: Trapped like a beast, Backed into a corner.
40. Goosebumps Rising
Meaning: Feeling fear that causes the skin to prickle with goosebumps.
In a Sentence: The eerie whisper gave her goosebumps rising all over.
Other Ways to Say: Skin prickling, Hairs standing up.
41. A Wave of Panic
Meaning: A sudden, overwhelming surge of fear that washes over you.
In a Sentence: Seeing the fire, a wave of panic crashed over him.
Other Ways to Say: Surge of fear, Flood of terror.
42. Like a Lamb to the Slaughter
Meaning: Feeling innocent and scared, unaware of impending danger.
In a Sentence: Walking into the haunted house, she felt like a lamb to the slaughter.
Other Ways to Say: Innocent and terrified, Helpless as a lamb.
43. Heart in a Vise
Meaning: Feeling fear so intense it’s like your heart is being squeezed tightly.
In a Sentence: The terrifying news left her heart in a vise.
Other Ways to Say: Heart squeezed, Chest gripped.
44. A Shiver of Fear
Meaning: A quick, involuntary shudder caused by fear.
In a Sentence: The dark shadow sent a shiver of fear through her.
Other Ways to Say: Tremor of terror, Quiver of dread.
45. Like a Bird in a Cage
Meaning: Feeling trapped and scared, unable to escape.
In a Sentence: Locked in the room, he felt like a bird in a cage.
Other Ways to Say: Caged like a bird, Trapped like a sparrow.
46. Blood Freezing
Meaning: Feeling fear so intense it’s like your blood stops flowing.
In a Sentence: The ghostly figure made her blood freeze.
Other Ways to Say: Blood chilling, Veins icing over.
47. A Tightening Grip of Fear
Meaning: A sensation of fear that feels like it’s squeezing you tighter.
In a Sentence: As the storm worsened, a tightening grip of fear took hold.
Other Ways to Say: Clench of terror, Squeeze of dread.
48. Like a Fish in a Net
Meaning: Feeling caught and scared, with no way to escape.
In a Sentence: Trapped in the lie, she felt like a fish in a net.
Other Ways to Say: Caught like a fish, Snared like prey.
49. Heart Racing Like a Wild Horse
Meaning: A rapid, uncontrollable heartbeat caused by fear.
In a Sentence: The sudden noise sent her heart racing like a wild horse.
Other Ways to Say: Heart galloping, Pulse bolting.
50. A Shadow of Fear
Meaning: A lingering, ominous feeling of fear that follows you.
In a Sentence: Even after the danger passed, a shadow of fear remained.
Other Ways to Say: Cloud of dread, Veil of terror.
