# scare off

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/scare-off
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to make someone or something go away by making them feel afraid. You use this when you want to stop someone from coming near you or doing something.

For teachers: to cause a person or animal to flee or avoid a situation by inducing fear or apprehension. Transitive; the object may be placed between the verb and the particle.

## Examples

- The loud noise will scare off the birds in the garden.
- The high prices at the new boutique might scare off potential customers who are looking for a bargain.
- Aggressive marketing tactics often backfire, as they tend to scare off discerning investors who value transparency over hype.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The dog scared off of the cat." but "The dog scared off the cat." — no 'of' is needed after the particle 'off' when followed by an object.

## Usage notes

- This verb is transitive and can be used with people, animals, or even abstract things like investors.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'scare away'; while often interchangeable, 'scare off' is frequently used in business contexts to mean 'deterring' someone from a deal.

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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.