fear



fear no colors

To be brave in a dangerous situation. "Colors" has a military connotation, although the phrase can be used more broadly than that. I can handle this situation, I swear—I fear no colors.
See also: color, fear

fear of missing out

slang The worry that one may miss an enjoyable activity, especially due to the fact that one often sees others documenting such activities on social media. Often abbreviated as "FOMO." Fear of missing out convinced me to go to that crazy outdoor festival with my friends.
See also: fear, missing, of, out

fear for someone or something

to be afraid for the safety of someone or something; to worry about someone or something. I fear for Tom. He has gone to a very dangerous place. I don't want to go down that rocky trail. I fear for my car.
See also: fear

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Prov. Foolish people usually do not understand when a situation is dangerous, so they are not afraid to do things that would frighten more sensible people. Alan: Bob is too scared to go in and confront the boss, so I'm going to. Jane: Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
See also: angel, fear, Fool, rush, tread

for fear of something

out of fear for something; because of fear of something. He doesn't drive for fear of an accident. They lock their car doors for fear of being attacked.
See also: fear, of

He that is down need fear no fall.

Prov. If you have nothing, you cannot lose anything by taking a risk. Jim spent his last ten dollars on lottery tickets, figuring that he who is down need fear no fall.
See also: down, fall, fear, he, need

in fear and trembling

Cliché with anxiety or fear; with dread. In fear and trembling, I went into the room to take the test. The witness left the courtroom in fear and trembling.
See also: and, fear, tremble

never fear

do not worry; have confidence. I'll be there on time—never fear. I'll help you, never fear.
See also: fear, never

put the fear of God in(to) someone

Fig. to frighten someone severely; [for something] to shock someone into contrite behavior. A near miss like that really puts the fear of God into you. Yes, it puts the fear of God in you.
See also: fear, god, of, put

put the fear of God into somebody

to frighten someone very much There's no question that this wrestler puts the fear of God into his opponents.
See also: fear, god, of, put

fear the worst

to feel sure that what was least wanted has happened or will happen When the doctor called, she feared the worst.
See also: fear, worst

put the fear of God into somebody

to frighten someone very much What were you doing up on the roof? You put the fear of God into me!
See No fear!
See also: fear, god, of, put

No fear!

  (British & Australian informal)
something that you say in order to emphasize that you do not want to do something 'So are you coming camping with us this weekend?' 'No fear! I hate camping!'

fools rush in where angels fear to tread

Ignorant or inexperienced individuals get involved in situations that wiser persons would avoid, as in I've never heard this symphony and here I am conducting it-oh well, fools rush in where angels fear to tread , or He tried to mediate their unending argument-fools rush in. This expression, so well known it is sometimes shortened as in the second example, is a quotation from Alexander Pope's Essay on Criticism (1709): "No place so sacred from such fops is barr'd ... Nay, fly to altars; there they'll talk you dead; For fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
See also: angel, fear, fool, rush, tread

for fear of

Also, for fear that. In order to avoid or prevent, in case of. For example, They closed all the windows for fear of rain. The variant is always used before a clause, as in She wouldn't let her children climb trees for fear that they would fall. The first term dates from the late 1400s, the second from about 1600.
See also: fear, of

never fear

Don't worry that a thing will or won't occur, be confident, as in I'll get there, never fear. This phrase was used by Christopher Marlowe in Doctor Faustus (c. 1590): "'Tis but a surfeit; never fear, man."
See also: fear, never

put the fear of God into

Terrify someone, as in The school counselor put the fear of God into the girls when she talked about AIDS. This phrase alludes to a time when most people had a mingled feeling of dread and reverence toward the deity. [Late 1800s]
See also: fear, god, of, put

I’m shaking (in fear)

sent. You don’t really frighten me at all. (A mocking response to a threat.) Your threats really scare me. I’m shaking in fear.
See also: fear, shake

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
BurkhartBOORK-hahrt (German)German, Ancient Germanic
Imeldaee-MEL-dahItalian, Spanish
Filomenafee-lo-ME-nah (Italian)Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch
Pythagoraspi-THAG-ər-əs (English)Ancient Greek
RyszardRI-shahrtPolish
BoudewijnBOW-də-vien, BOW-də-wienDutch