scare the pants off someone

scare the pants off (of) (one)

To terrify one. The sound of the fire alarm scared the pants off of me at three in the morning.
See also: off, pant, scare

scare (or bore etc.) the pants off someone

make someone extremely scared, bored, etc. informal
See also: off, pant, scare, someone

scare the pants off someone

tv. to frighten someone suddenly. The piano lid fell and scared the pants off my parents.
See also: off, pant, scare, someone
References in periodicals archive ?
The fear of death can be too great to bear, The prospect of finding yourself some place That you do not know, neither here nor there, Lost somewhere on the other side of space, Nothing you recognise, no friendly face, Would scare the pants off someone made from stone, All other pains boil down to this dismay.
POEM OF THE DAY; Let It Happen
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