ENGLISH
REFERENCE

scare the pants off

idiom
Meaning

To scare or startle someone thoroughly.


Examples
SIMPLE

That loud noise really scared the pants off me.

CONTEXTUAL

The sudden thunderclap during the movie scared the pants off everyone in the room.

COMPLEX

The unexpected arrival of the inspector at the office scared the pants off the employees who had been cutting corners all week.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    ants in one's pants

    The condition of being agitated and constantly fidgeting.

  2. 02

    beat the pants off

    To thoroughly and decisively defeat someone, either in a physical fight or, figuratively, in a competition.

  3. 03

    caught with one's pants down

    Caught off guard, unprepared, or in an embarrassing situation.

  4. 04

    fly by the seat of one's pants

    To pilot an aircraft without the aid of instruments and without a flight plan, using only instinct, visual observation, and practical judgment.

  5. 05

    get into someone's pants

    To have sex with someone, especially for the first time.

  6. 06

    keep one's pants on

    To stay calm.

  7. 07

    lick the pants off

    To thoroughly and decisively defeat someone, either in a physical fight or, figuratively, in a competition.

  8. 08

    pee in one's pants

    To laugh uncontrollably.

Last updated April 17, 2026