frightened to know

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "frightened to know" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing fear or anxiety about discovering certain information or truths. Example: "She was frightened to know what the results of the test would reveal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Outrage and criticism should be directed at the current, inhumane Israeli government, even if its actions in Gaza are backed by the majority of its people, many of whom are too frightened to know better.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"But it's frightening to know this person" — Trump — "would have the nuclear-launch codes.

The New York Times - Magazine

As Price writes, it is "a bit frightening to know that just before the fall of their great civilization the ancient Greeks had come so close to our age, not only in their thought, but also in their scientific technology".

The New Yorker

It was frightening to know that so many millions in so many attitudes in so many places were listening to one Voice and concentrating on one theme, in this instance blood.

The New Yorker

"We brought him in for £8.5m from Inter Milan and it is frightening to know what he could be worth in the market, but there are still improvements to make," Rodgers said.

BBC

It's frightening to know that some people still find a laugh in their own bigoted behavior.

Huffington Post

As robots become pervasive fixtures in our society, it's frightening to know that few laws exist to govern their use.

Huffington Post

It's frightening to know the number of Cubans who no longer want to leave here, or raise their children on this island, or realize their professional careers in the country.

Huffington Post

That doesn't make any sense to you or me or Ed Pettit, but one thing they know that we don't is that the wider public is too apathetic and/or distracted and/or frightened to want to know the truth.

Huffington Post

In schools now, many children are embarrassed, even frightened, to be seen to know the answers or be interested enough to ask questions.

The Guardian

He thought that perhaps it had frightened her, to know that he was human.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To achieve clarity, follow "frightened to know" with a 'what' clause specifying the source of concern. E.g., "She was frightened to know what her test results would reveal."

Common error

Avoid using "frightened to know" when describing fear of physical dangers. This phrase is better suited to describe emotional reactions to potential information, not immediate threats. Use "afraid of" or "scared of" to denote physical fear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "frightened to know" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, expressing a state of being afraid or anxious about acquiring knowledge. It describes an emotional response to the prospect of learning something potentially unpleasant or disturbing. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "frightened to know" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to convey fear or anxiety about acquiring specific information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for various contexts, most commonly found in news, scientific, and formal business writing. Alternatives such as "afraid to know" or "scared to know" can be used to express similar sentiments. It is important to use this phrase when specifically referring to the emotional impact of potential knowledge, rather than physical dangers. While not extremely common, it serves as an effective way to express apprehension about learning something potentially disturbing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

afraid to know

Replaces "frightened" with a synonym of similar intensity. Shifts focus slightly to a general sense of fear.

scared to know

Uses "scared" which is another synonym for "frightened", maintaining a similar level of intensity.

apprehensive about knowing

Replaces "frightened" with "apprehensive", indicating a milder form of anxiety about knowing something.

uneasy about learning

Uses "uneasy" to suggest a lack of comfort with the prospect of learning something, which is less intense than being frightened.

reluctant to discover

Emphasizes a hesitation to uncover or find something out, focusing on the reluctance rather than fear.

hesitant to learn

Highlights a pause or delay in wanting to learn something, implying a lack of enthusiasm or possible fear.

dread knowing

Conveys a sense of foreboding or intense aversion to knowing something, stronger emotional impact than "frightened".

terrified to find out

Uses "terrified" to indicate a much stronger level of fear about finding something out.

anxious about the truth

Focuses on the anxiety associated with knowing the truth, rather than a general fear.

fearful of the knowledge

Shifts the focus to the fear of the knowledge itself, instead of the act of knowing.

FAQs

What does "frightened to know" mean?

The phrase "frightened to know" describes a state of being afraid or anxious about learning something, anticipating that the information will be unpleasant or disturbing. It conveys a sense of dread or unease related to potential knowledge.

How can I use "frightened to know" in a sentence?

You can use "frightened to know" to express your apprehension about learning something. For example, "He was "frightened to know" the extent of the damage caused by the storm" shows fear of discovering the truth.

What are some alternatives to "frightened to know"?

Alternatives include phrases like "afraid to know", "scared to know", or "apprehensive about knowing", which convey similar feelings of anxiety about acquiring information.

Is "frightened to know" the same as "frightened of knowing"?

While similar, "frightened to know" typically implies a more direct anticipation of specific information, whereas "frightened of knowing" can suggest a more general fear of knowledge itself. The former is usually followed by 'what', 'how', or 'that' clauses, whereas the latter is followed by nouns or gerunds.