# rub the fear of God into

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/rub-the-fear-of-god-into
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Alternative form of put the fear of God into.

## Examples

- The strict teacher rubs the fear of God into his students.
- The captain's harsh warning before the storm really rubbed the fear of God into the new crew members.
- The sudden, thunderous collapse of the market rubbed the fear of God into investors who had previously believed their wealth was entirely secure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.