Idioms U4 Flashcards
to go into a tailspin
to spiral to the ground, as of an airplane; by extension, to become literally unstable
to pop out of thin air
appear unexpectedly
to put one’s finger on sth
specify, pinpoint
to freeze. flight, fight and fright
instinctive response, confront, running away or becoming paralyzed
hit like a tidal wave
it started suddenly and struck hard
give a nudge
to gently encourage or prompt someone to take action or move forward, often in a subtle or indirect way
to squirt a dose
to administering a specific amount of a liquid or substance, often in the form of a medicine, chemical, or liquid used in a controlled manner
to run in families
to be consistently present in almost all the members of a family
to get goosebumps
the physical reaction where small, raised bumps appear on the skin, typically on the arms or neck, due to a strong emotional response such as fear, excitement, awe, or even pleasure
to have/get butterflies in one’s stomach
[informal] to feel very nervous before doing something
to give someone the creeps
if a person or place gives you the creeps, they make you feel nervous and a little frightened, especially because they are strange
to make someone’s flesh creep
to make someone feel frightened, nervous, or uncomfortable
to give someone the squeeby-jeebies
[informal] to make someone feel anxious or frightened
to give someone the willies
when something strange or threatening makes you have feelings of nervousness and fear.
to give someone the jittters
to make somebody nervous and frightened
to have/get the jitters
to have feelings of nervousness or anxiety, especially before an important event or before having to do sth difficult
to get the wind up
[British English - informal] if you put the wind up someone, you make them feel anxious or frightened. If you get the wind up, you become anxious or frightened
to send shivers up and down the spine
to make you feel very frightened or excited
to give someone the shivers
informal] to make you feel afraid
to chill the spine
to frighten somebody very much
To shiver
[intransitive] to shake slightly because you are cold or frightened [= tremble]
To shudder
[intransitive] to shake for a short time because you are afraid or cold, or because you think something is very unpleasant
To feel one’s blood run cold/freeze
to make someone feel extremely frightened
to be as white as a sheet
when someone’s face is pale, usually because of shock or fear
