scare the dickens out of (one)

To shock or frighten one very suddenly or severely. "Dickens" is a euphemism for "devil." Don't sneak up on me like that—you scared the dickens out of me! The sound of the fire alarm scared the dickens out of us this morning.

See also: dickens, of, out, scare

See also:

work like the dickens
what (in) the dickens
hurt like the dickens
the dickens
run like the dickens
raise the dickens
raise the dickens with (someone or something)
(as) hot as the dickens
dickens
Barkis is willin'

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