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horror

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horror show

1. Literally, a (potentially frightening) film or television show with supernatural and/or macabre elements. I can't watch these horror shows before bed, they give me nightmares.

2. Something disastrous, disorganized, or otherwise unpleasant, often said with a note of dismay or disdain. Oh boy, that performance was a real horror show. How many people were actually singing the same thing at the same time? I can't have anyone come over right now—I just got back from a business trip, and my house is a horror show!

See also: horror, show

little horror

A poorly behaved child. I regret offering to babysit—her child is such a little horror!

See also: horror, little

in horror

with intense shock or disgust. Mike stepped back from the rattlesnake in horror. The jogger recoiled in horror when she came upon a body in the park.

See also: horror

throw one's hands up in horror

Fig. to be shocked and horrified. When Bill heard the bad news, he threw his hands up in horror. I could do no more. I had seen more than I could stand. I just threw up my hands in horror and screamed.

See also: hand, horror, throw, up

a little horror

  (humorous)

a child who behaves very badly I had six of the little horrors running round the house all day.

See also: horror, little

horror

see under throw up one's hands.

horrors

1. n. the delirium tremens. The old wino had the horrors all the time.

2. n. frightening hallucinations from drugs. (Drugs.) Once he had gone through the horrors, he swore off for good.

See also: horror