panic
noun /ˈpænɪk/
/ˈpænɪk/
[uncountable, countable, usually singular]Idioms - a sudden feeling of great fear that cannot be controlled and prevents you from thinking clearly
- a moment of panic
- They were in a state of panic.
- in panic Office workers fled in panic as the fire took hold.
- There's no point getting into a panic about the exams.
- a panic attack (= a condition in which you suddenly feel very anxious, causing your heart to beat faster, etc.)
- a panic decision (= one that is made when you are in a state of panic)
- A look of panic crossed his face.
- The mere thought of flying fills me with panic.
Synonyms fearfear- terror
- panic
- alarm
- fright
- fear the bad feeling that you have when you are in danger or when a particular thing frightens you:
- (a) fear of flying
- She showed no fear.
- terror a feeling of extreme fear:
- Her eyes were wild with terror.
- panic a sudden feeling of great fear that cannot be controlled and prevents you from thinking clearly:
- I had a sudden moment of panic.
- alarm fear or worry that somebody feels when something dangerous or unpleasant might happen:
- The doctor said there was no cause for alarm.
- fright a feeling of fear, usually sudden:
- She cried out in fright.
- a fear/terror of something
- in fear/terror/panic/alarm/fright
- fear/terror/panic/alarm that…
- to be filled with fear/terror/panic/alarm
- a feeling of fear/terror/panic/alarm
Extra Examples- He felt panic rising within him.
- He jumped out of the car in a panic.
- Her mind went blank with panic.
- I felt a surge of panic when I realized my mistake.
- She went into a blind panic when she couldn't find the exit.
- The thought of being in charge threw him into a mild panic.
- Eli was clearly in panic mode.
- She still has panic attacks two years after the accident.
- people suffering from depression and panic disorders
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- blind
- complete
- mad
- …
- surge
- wave
- feel
- get into
- go into
- …
- break out
- spread across, through, etc. something
- sweep over, through, etc. something
- …
- attack
- disorder
- reaction
- …
- in (a) panic
- with panic
- panic about
- …
- a feeling of panic
- a sense of panic
- in a state of panic
- …
- a situation in which people are made to feel very anxious or frightened, causing them to act quickly and without thinking carefully
- News of the losses caused (a) panic among investors.
- Careful planning at this stage will help to avoid a last-minute panic.
- There's no panic (= we do not need to rush), we've got plenty of time.
- panic buying/selling (= the act of buying/selling things quickly and without thinking carefully because you are afraid that a particular situation will become worse)
Extra Examples- In the ensuing panic, they lost each other.
- The keys were lost during the panic over the fire alarm.
- Panic buying turned the petrol shortage into a crisis.
- Panic swept through the crowd.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- blind
- complete
- mad
- …
- surge
- wave
- feel
- get into
- go into
- …
- break out
- spread across, through, etc. something
- sweep over, through, etc. something
- …
- attack
- disorder
- reaction
- …
- in (a) panic
- with panic
- panic about
- …
- a feeling of panic
- a sense of panic
- in a state of panic
- …
Word Originearly 17th cent.: from French panique, from modern Latin panicus, from Greek panikos, from the name of the god Pan in Greek mythology, noted for causing terror, to whom woodland noises were attributed.
Idioms
panic stations
- (British English, informal) a situation in which people feel very anxious and there is a lot of confused activity, especially because there is a lot to do in a short period of time
- It was panic stations when the deadline was brought forward by a week.