scared stiff

Fig. badly frightened. We were scared stiff by the robber. I was scared stiff when the dog growled at me.

extremely frightened Jill awoke from a dream that left her afraid - scared stiff, in fact.

Etymology: from the idea that you are stiff (unable to bend or change your position) because you are too frightened to move

mod. frightened; unable to move from fear. The poor little kid stood there—scared stiff. I was scared stiff for hours after the accident.

Name	Pronounced	Usage
Amaterasu	-	Far Eastern Mythology
Sa'dia	-	Arabic
Burroughs	['bʌrəuz]
Shemaiah	-	Biblical
Shraga	-	Jewish
Isocrates	-	Ancient Greek (Latinized)