be frightened (or scared) out of one's wits
Be extremely frightened.He said: ‘Pensioners round here were frightened out of their wits.’...- The workers were frightened out of their wits, they knew that this meant death to whoever had dared to disturb the tomb.
- ‘When we played at the Park the band before us were really good I was scared out of my wits and was dreading going on,’ added Craig.
See parent entry: wit