SCARED SILLY Meaning and
Definition
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Scared silly is an idiomatic expression used to describe extreme fear or terror that renders an individual completely unable to think or act rationally. This phrase is often used to emphasize the intensity of fear and the resulting overwhelming impact it has on a person's mental and physical state.
When someone is scared silly, they experience such intense fright that it can paralyze their ability to think clearly or logically. This extreme fear may also cause individuals to lose control over their bodily functions, tremble uncontrollably, or even faint.
The term "silly" in this context is not meant to indicate humor but rather denotes the profound effect that fear has on a person. It implies that the individual is so overwhelmed by fear that their usual rationality or composure is temporarily overridden, leading to a state of vulnerability or helplessness.
The phrase is often used in casual conversations, storytelling, or literature to vividly describe situations where fear eclipses all reason and common sense. It implies that the person is terrified to the point where even the simplest tasks or decisions become impossible. The intention behind using the phrase "scared silly" is to emphasize the significant impact that fear can have on an individual, reducing them to a state of complete mental and physical disarray.
Common Misspellings for SCARED SILLY
- scard silly
- scarre silly
- scare sily
- scare silly
- acared silly
- zcared silly
- xcared silly
- dcared silly
- ecared silly
- wcared silly
- sxared silly
- svared silly
- sfared silly
- sdared silly
- sczred silly
- scsred silly
- scwred silly
- scqred silly
- scaeed silly
- scaded silly
Etymology of SCARED SILLY
The expression "scared silly" is a colloquial phrase that means to be extremely frightened or terrified. The etymology of this phrase can be understood by examining the individual words.
1. Scared: The word "scared" originates from the Middle English word "skerren", which means "to frighten" or "to alarm". This Middle English term is derived from the Old Norse word "skirra", meaning "to frighten" or "to shy away".
2. Silly: The word "silly" has a more complex etymology. It derives from the Old English word "sǣlig", which originally meant "happy" or "blessed". Over time, the meaning evolved, and "silly" came to be associated with innocence, simplicity, or foolishness.
Idioms with the word SCARED SILLY
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scared silly
Scared silly means extremely frightened or terrified, to the point of being unable to think or act rationally.
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