Scared Stiff
意味: Extremely frightened, paralyzed with fear
Being 'scared stiff' means being so terrified that you freeze—your body becomes rigid and immobile with fear. It describes the primal fear response where flight isn't possible, so the body prepares to 'freeze' instead.
直訳: So scared your body becomes rigid
例文
- I was scared stiff during the horror film. 看恐怖片时我吓呆了Estaba muerto de miedo durante la película de terrorホラー映画を見ている間、恐怖で固まっていた공포 영화를 보는 동안 무서워서 꼼짝도 못했다.
- The children were scared stiff of the neighbor's dog. 孩子们怕邻居的狗怕得要命Los niños estaban aterrados del perro del vecino子供たちは隣の犬を死ぬほど怖がっていた아이들은 이웃집 개를 무서워 죽을 지경이었다.
- He was scared stiff before his first public speech. 第一次公开演讲前他紧张得僵住了Estaba paralizado de miedo antes de su primer discurso público初めての人前でのスピーチの前、彼は恐怖で硬直していた첫 대중 연설 전에 그는 겁에 질려 굳어 있었다.
- I'm scared stiff of heights.我恐高得要命Me aterran las alturas私は高所恐怖症だ나는 높은 곳이 무서워 죽겠다.
発音
/skeəd stɪf/
使い方ガイド
場面: fear, phobias, horror
トーン: emphatic, vivid
✓ 正しい言い方
- I was scared stiff.我吓得动不了了Estaba muerto de miedo怖くて体が固まった무서워서 꼼짝도 못 했어.
- She's scared stiff of spiders.她怕蜘蛛怕得要命Le dan un miedo atroz las arañas彼女はクモが怖くてたまらない그녀는 거미를 무서워 죽겠대.
- We were all scared stiff.我们都吓得僵住了Estábamos todos muertos de miedoみんな恐怖で固まった우리 모두 겁에 질려 굳었어.
✗ 間違った言い方
- Very common expression非常常用的表达Expresión muy común非常に一般的な表現매우 흔히 쓰이는 표현
- Slightly hyperbolic for mild fears对于轻微的恐惧略显夸张Ligeramente hiperbólico para miedos leves軽い恐怖にはやや誇張가벼운 두려움에는 다소 과장된 표현
よくある間違い
- It's 'scared STIFF' not 'scared STIFFLY'
- Similar to 'scared witless' or 'scared silly'
起源と歴史
The phrase captures the real physical response to extreme fear—muscles tense, the body becomes rigid, and movement becomes difficult. This 'freeze' response is a genuine physiological reaction to terror, making the phrase both metaphorically expressive and physically accurate.
語源: From the physical stiffening response to fear
初出: Early 20th century
文化的背景
Era: Early 20th century onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Pop culture: 'Scared Stiff' - Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis film (1953); Common in horror movie descriptions
Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking countries.
バリエーション
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