be thrilled to bits

To be ecstatic; to be very pleased and excited. A: "I really hope Mary enjoys her surprise birthday party." B: "I'm sure she'll be thrilled to bits!" I was thrilled to bits to hear that I'd been selected for a literary award in New York City. I have to say, I was thrilled to bits when I saw the Eiffel Tower in person. Photos do not do it justice!

be thrilled to death

To be ecstatic; to be very pleased and excited. A: "I really hope Mary enjoys her surprise birthday party." B: "I'm sure she'll be thrilled to death!" I was thrilled to death to hear that I'd been selected for a literary award in New York City. I have to say, I was thrilled to death when I saw the Eiffel Tower in person. Photos do not do it justice!

See also: death, thrill, to

be thrilled to pieces

To be ecstatic; to be very pleased and excited. A: "I really hope Mary enjoys her surprise birthday party." B: "I'm sure she'll be thrilled to pieces!" I was thrilled to pieces to hear that I'd been selected for a literary award in New York City. I have to say, I was thrilled to pieces when I saw the Eiffel Tower in person. Photos do not do it justice!

See also: piece, thrill, to

be thrilled with (someone or something)

To be filled with a feeling of delight, pride, or satisfaction. I must say, I'm thrilled with the lovely watch Tom got me for Christmas! I've been thrilled with the wonderful reception my new book has received. I know you're not thrilled with this new schedule, but can you please try to adjust to it?

See also: thrill

cheap thrill

Something that is fun or entertaining but not beneficial or entirely satisfying. I was a teenager once, so I know how tempting cheap thrills can be. But one day, you'll realize that there are more important things than sneaking out with your friends and partying. When are you going to grow up and abandon these stupid cheap thrills? Motorcycles are one dangerous way to get a cheap thrill, Pat.

chills and thrills

1. The excitement of dangerous but exhilarating activities, especially those in which the participant may at any moment suffer injury or death. He was always a rather reserved person, so it shocked me to learn that he was so into the chills and thrills of white-water rafting. Millions tune in to watch the chills and thrills of stock-car racing. I can't believe you're actually going to bungee jump. I don't need chills and thrills like that in my life, thank you very much!

2. Elements that are both exciting and frightening. It isn't a horror movie per se, but it certainly has its fair share of chills and thrills. The author's new collection of scary stories offers lots of chills and thrills for young adults. Dave will go with you on the haunted hayride—he actually enjoys chills and thrills like that.

thrill (one) to bits

To cause someone to feel a great deal of excitement, joy, or pleasure. Often used in passive constructions. I have to say, seeing the Eiffel Tower in person thrilled me to bits. A: "I really hope Mary enjoys her surprise birthday party." B: "I'm sure she'll be thrilled to bits!"

thrill (one) to death

To cause someone to feel a great deal of excitement, joy, or pleasure. Often used in passive constructions. I have to say, seeing the Eiffel Tower in person thrilled me to death. A: "I really hope Mary enjoys her surprise birthday party." B: "I'm sure she'll be thrilled to death!"

See also: death, thrill, to

thrill (one) to pieces

To cause someone to feel a great deal of excitement, joy, or pleasure. Often used in passive constructions. I have to say, seeing the Eiffel Tower in person thrilled me to pieces. A: "I really hope Mary enjoys her surprise birthday party." B: "I'm sure she'll be thrilled to pieces!"

See also: piece, thrill, to

thrill (one) with (something)

To cause one to experience a sudden rush of pleasure, delight, or excitement due to something one does, displays, or presents. My uncle Jack was an explorer, and he used to thrill us with his tales of adventure when we were kids. The circus performer thrilled the audience with her death-defying acrobatics.

See also: thrill

thrill at (something)

To experience a sudden rush of pleasure, delight, or excitement upon witnessing or experiencing something. I always get a kick out of the students moving up here from the Sun Belt who thrill at the sight of snow for the first time. The audience thrilled at the death-defying feats of the acrobats.

See also: thrill

thrill kill

A murder done to bring the murderer excitement or pleasure. I think our suspect loves a thrill kill. Why else would he carry out such violent crimes?

thrill killer

One who derives excitement or pleasure from murdering people. I think our suspect is a thrill killer and really enjoys carrying out these violent crimes.

thrill to (something)

To become greatly excited by or joyful from something. I wanted to thrill to the championship game the way I used to as a kid, but the magic was gone from it for some reason. The television series has found a following among those who thrill to the misdeeds of the rich and powerful.

thrilled to bits

Ecstatic; very pleased and excited. A: "I really hope Mary enjoyed her surprise birthday party." B: "I'm sure she did; she seemed thrilled to bits!" I was thrilled to bits to hear that I'd been selected for a literary award in New York City.

thrilled to death

Ecstatic; very pleased and excited. A: "I really hope Mary enjoyed her surprise birthday party." B: "I'm sure she did; she seemed thrilled to death!" I was thrilled to death to hear that I'd been selected for a literary award in New York City.

See also: death, thrill, to

thrilled to pieces

Ecstatic; very pleased and excited. A: "I really hope Mary enjoyed her surprise birthday party." B: "I'm sure she did; she seemed thrilled to pieces!" I was thrilled to pieces to hear that I'd been selected for a literary award in New York City.

See also: piece, thrill, to

thrills and chills

1. The excitement of dangerous but exhilarating activities, especially those in which the participant may at any moment suffer injury or death. He was always a rather reserved person, so it shocked me to learn that he was so into the thrills and chills of white-water rafting. Millions tune in to watch the thrills and chills of stock-car racing.

2. Elements that are both exciting and frightening. It isn't a horror movie per se, but it certainly has its fair share of thrills and chills. The author's new collection of scary stories offers lots of thrills and chills for young adults.

thrills and spills

The excitement of thrillingly dangerous activities in which the participant may at any moment go from success to failure. He was always a rather reserved person, so it shocked me to learn that he was so into the thrills and spills of white-water rafting. Millions tune in to watch the thrills and spills of stock car racing.

thrill at someone or something

to become excited by someone or something. The opera was mystically intoxicating, and the audience thrilled at the tenor lead. We thrilled at the agility of the dancers.

See also: thrill

thrill someone to pieces

and thrill someone to death; thrill someone to bits

Fig. to please or excite someone very much. John sent flowers to Ann and thrilled her to pieces. Your wonderful comments thrilled me to death.

See also: piece, thrill, to

thrill someone with something

to create or use something to cause someone much joy. The famous singer thrilled us with a lovely song. Sally was thrilled with the praise heaped upon her daughter.

See also: thrill

thrill to something

to become excited by something; to experience great joy while experiencing something. I always thrill to the sound of a marching band. The crowd thrilled to the sight of the winning team parading down Main Street.

thrilled to death

and thrilled to pieces

Fig. very excited; to be very pleased. She was thrilled to death to get the flowers. I'm just thrilled to pieces to have you visit me.

See also: death, thrill, to

thrill to pieces

Also, thrill to death. Give great pleasure, delight, as in I was just thrilled to pieces with our new grandson, or He was thrilled to death when he first saw the Himalayas. Both of these hyperbolic terms use thrill in the sense of "affect with sudden emotion," a usage dating from the late 1500s. Also see tickled pink.

See also: piece, thrill, to

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

thrills and spills

the excitement of dangerous sports or entertainments, especially as experienced by spectators.

(the) thrills and ˈspills (of something)

(informal) the exciting mixture of sudden successes and difficulties: He loves the thrills and spills of Grand Prix motor racing.

thrill to

To be greatly excited by someone or something: Audiences thrilled to the spectacular performance.