make hair stand on end

make someone's hair stand on end

Fig. to cause someone to be very frightened. The horrible scream made my hair stand on end. The ghost story made our hair stand on end.

See also: end, hair, make, stand

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make somebody's hair stand on end

to make someone feel very frightened The thought of jumping out of an aeroplane makes my hair stand on end.

See also: end, hair, make, stand

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make your hair stand on end also make your hair stand up on the back of your neck

to cause you to be very frightened Massey's detailed account of the battle made my hair stand on end.

Usage notes: sometimes used in the form feel your hair stand on end (to recognize you are very frightened): I could feel the hair stand up on the back of my neck at the thought of crossing that old bridge.

Related vocabulary: raise your hackles

See also: end, hair, make, stand