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terror

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a holy terror

A very troublesome, aggressive, or aggravating person; a person who is exasperatingly difficult in his or her manner or behavior. I know that I was a holy terror when I was young, so I guess it's fitting that my own kids give me so much trouble.

See also: holy, terror

reign of terror

A period of oppression by a hostile ruler. Sometimes used hyperbolically. The people could only tolerate the dictator's reign of terror for so long before they started a revolution. Is mom finished with her reign of terror, or do we have to keep cleaning the house every weekend?

See also: of, reign, terror

hold terror for someone

[for something] to be frightening to a person. The thought of flying to Rio by myself held great terror for me. Nothing holds terror for me. I am a daredevil.

See also: hold, terror

a reign of terror

a period of time when a ruler controls people in a violent and cruel way My father's generation, who lived through the reign of terror, will never forget it.

See also: of, reign, terror

holy terror

An exasperating individual, as in He was only five, but he was a holy terror, running wild through the house and throwing whatever he could lay his hands on . The adjective holy here is an intensifier. [Late 1800s]

See also: holy, terror

holy terror

n. a devilish person; a badly behaving child. Why is the boss such a holy terror today?

See also: holy, terror