# send shivers down someone's spine

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/send-shivers-down-someones-spine
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To terrify; to make someone feel extremely nervous.

## Examples

- That scary movie sends shivers down my spine.
- The strange noise in the dark hallway sent shivers down her spine as she walked home alone.
- The haunting melody, played on a lonely violin in the empty theater, sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the audience.

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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.