chilling thrill

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "chilling thrill" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an exciting yet frightening experience, often in contexts related to horror, adventure, or suspense. Example: "The haunted house provided a chilling thrill that kept us on the edge of our seats."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Turning to the Visual Thesaurus on the Web, I find a nicely Schadenfreudic definition — "an almost pleasurable sensation of fright" — with the synonyms "chill, quiver, shiver, shudder, thrill, tingle".

The New York Times - Magazine

She mentioned to me that her father was raised on Bible stories, which, I told her, surprised me since his memoir, "On Writing," gives you the sense that his background in storytelling came from a steady diet of books filled with chills, thrills and spills.

The New York Times

It's smart, campy entertainment for adults craving chills, thrills and side orders of funky choreography and corny humor.

Huffington Post

"Holy shit did you guys dose my kibble again??" "This video gives me chills, thrills, and fills (my penis with blood).

Vice

The state of being moved or touched was conceptualized by Scherer and Zentner (2001) as being "accompanied by moist eyes, chills, thrills or gooseflesh" (p. 384) and exemplified by "tears shed during sentimental movies in the cinema or the flash of warmth experienced when hearing about a good deed".

Biological Psychology

Marketing for BuzzSaw began on 6 July 2011 when Dreamworld released a television commercial promoting their plans to open a "new bone-chilling thrill ride" by September of that year.

Wikipedia

I saw these dynamics up close in 2004, and it's a thrilling, chilling experience (video).

The New York Times

And they were often placed in this peril by the very outlets that then shaped their resultant antics into thrilling, chilling tales of suspense.

The New York Times - Magazine

DO we need Ringmaster Freud, of the thrilling, chilling, Circus of the Unconscious, to announce what happens when Dad is an impossible room to play?

The New York Times

Horror cinema was built upon such milestones, but this gothic masterpiece has seeped into the very soul of movie-making itself, continuing to cast its unbreakable spell – thrilling, chilling, electrifying.

The Guardian - Film

Anderson Cooper and Nancy Grace teamed up on Thursday night to try and solve a thrilling, chilling mystery: "The Case of the Missing Handcuff Necklace".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "chilling thrill" to describe experiences that evoke a sense of excitement combined with fear or suspense, such as in horror movies, adventure stories, or suspenseful situations.

Common error

Avoid using "chilling thrill" too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive. Vary your descriptions by using synonyms or alternative phrases to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "chilling thrill" functions as a descriptive compound noun, where the adjective "chilling" modifies the noun "thrill". It aims to encapsulate a feeling of excitement that is intertwined with a sense of fear or apprehension. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "chilling thrill" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe an experience that combines excitement and fear. While Ludwig AI deems the phrase correct, the lack of examples suggests it may not be widely used. The phrase functions as a descriptive compound noun, aiming to evoke a specific emotional response in the audience. Though its register is neutral, it's advisable to use it judiciously and consider alternatives to prevent repetition in writing. The phrase aims to express an exciting, yet frightening experience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thrilling chill

Inversion of the original phrase, maintaining the core meaning but with a slightly different emphasis.

spine-tingling excitement

Uses a more descriptive adjective "spine-tingling" to emphasize the thrilling aspect.

exciting shiver

Substitutes "chilling" with "exciting" and "thrill" with "shiver", focusing on the physical sensation of excitement.

blood-curdling excitement

Uses a more extreme descriptor ("blood-curdling") to intensify the sense of fear and excitement.

exhilarating fear

Emphasizes the fear component while highlighting its exhilarating quality.

frightening delight

Juxtaposes the opposing emotions of fright and delight, emphasizing the paradoxical nature of the experience.

gripping suspense

Shifts the focus to the suspenseful element, suggesting a captivating yet unnerving experience.

hair-raising adventure

Highlights the adventurous aspect, implying a dangerous and exciting experience.

intense exhilaration

Focuses on the powerful and uplifting aspect of the thrill, suggesting a strong emotional response.

edge-of-your-seat experience

Describes the feeling of anticipation and suspense associated with a thrilling event.

FAQs

How can I use "chilling thrill" in a sentence?

You can use "chilling thrill" to describe an experience that is both frightening and exciting. For example, "The haunted house provided a chilling thrill that kept us on the edge of our seats."

What can I say instead of "chilling thrill"?

You can use alternatives like "thrilling chill", "spine-tingling excitement", or "exhilarating fear" depending on the context.

Is "chilling thrill" redundant?

While both words suggest excitement and a degree of fear, "chilling" emphasizes the fear-inducing aspect, while "thrill" underscores the excitement. The combination creates a nuanced description of a specific type of experience.

What is the difference between "chilling thrill" and "exciting thrill"?

"Chilling thrill" implies a greater degree of fear or suspense compared to "exciting thrill", where the focus is primarily on the excitement. "Chilling" suggests a more intense and potentially unsettling experience.