put the fear of God into someone

put the fear of God into (one)

To cause one to greatly fear the potential consequences of something, such as misbehavior, typically by threats or a graphic description of such consequences. Our chemistry teacher has put the fear of God into us about fooling around near the chemicals and acids.

See also: fear, god, of, put

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

put the fear of God into someone

If someone or something puts the fear of God into you, they frighten or worry you very much, often deliberately. At some time or other Eve had obviously put the fear of God into her. They put the fear of God into us with their tales of loss of control on one engine and violent swings on take-off and landing. `That accident put the fear of God into me,' said Jones.

See also: fear, god, of, put, someone

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012