frightened to death

frightened to death

Very severely scared or worried. Used hyperbolically. I was frightened to death when I thought I heard footsteps on the staircase when no one else was home. We were frightened to death when we woke up to the sound of the howler monkeys. We had no idea what it was coming from. I'm frightened to death that the tests are going to come back positive.See also: death, frighten

frightened to death

 and scared to death 1. Lit. frightened to the point of dying. This poor animal has been frightened to death by the attacking dogs. 2. Fig. frightened or anxious. I don't want to go to the dentist today. I'm frightened to death. I'm frightened to death of spiders.See also: death, frighten