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scare out of

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scare (someone or an animal) out of something

 and scare (someone or an animal) out

to frighten someone or an animal out of something or some place. The old man tried to scare the kids out of his orchard by shouting at them. Karen scared out the intruder.

See also: of, out, scare

scare someone out of something

to startle someone; to frighten someone into losing something, such as a year's worth of growth, ten years of life, etc. You nearly scared me out of my skin! The bad news scared Roger out of ten years' growth.

See also: of, out, scare

scare something out of someone

to frighten someone very badly. (The something can be the living daylights, the wits, the hell, the shit, etc. Use discretion with shit.) Gee, you scared the living daylights out of me! The police tried to scare the truth out of her. The door blew shut and scared the hell out of me.

See also: of, out, scare