scare stiff

scare (one) stiff

To shock or frighten someone very suddenly and/or severely. Don't sneak up on me like that, you scared me stiff! That car accident seems to have scared Janet stiff—she's still shaken by it.See also: scare, stiff

scare someone stiff

Fig. to frighten someone severely. (Stiff = dead.) That loud noise scared me stiff. The robber jumped out and scared us stiff.See also: scare, stiff