out of fright

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "out of fright" is used in written English.
It is used to mean that a person or animal does something because they are afraid or scared. For example, "The little mouse skittered out of fright when it heard a loud noise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

While on an expedition to Libya, he learned of the king's assassination (1908 bce) and fled, either out of fright or because of his complicity.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Partly out of fright at the balance-of-payments pressures faced then, countries have run large trade surpluses and built up huge foreign-exchange reserves.

The Economist

An official in Pujiang county's propaganda office told Associated Press on Thursday that police concluded the woman did not initially identify herself as the mother out of fright.

The Guardian

The ticket seller, looking ashen and hollow-eyed as passengers peppered him with queries about the crash, said the ridership numbers always fluctuated, but people whispered that many regulars stayed away out of fright.

The New York Times

I don't want you to manage your finances out of fright, but you'd be smart to play the what-if game to ensure that if the "what if" happens, you're as prepared as you can be.

The Washington Post

It is not just a matter of "freezing" out of fright or pain or confusion for them.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

("I remember telling myself, and telling others, that I never really missed him," Joseph Heller once told me. "I know that is not true. I blocked it all out. It left me with a tremendous sense of fright").

Independent

Erik Johnson: There's a huge tidal wave of fright and terror coming out of a lot of CIOs.

Forbes

So the Yesees all died of much too much And the Noees all died of fright, But somehow I think the Thinkforyourselfees All came out all right.

The New York Times - Books

7. Ring (Hideo Nakata, 1998) See it and die - of fright, as the undead Sadako climbs out of her videotape, through the TV screen.

The Guardian - Film

The bus must have stopped, the driver must have called out the name, and she had not heard or seen anything, in her fog of fright.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "out of fright", ensure the context clearly establishes the cause-and-effect relationship between the fear and the subsequent action. For example, "The bird flew away "out of fright" when the cat approached" clearly illustrates the bird's reaction to the potential threat.

Common error

Avoid using "out of fright" when a milder term like "nervousness" or "anxiety" would be more accurate. "Fright" implies a sudden, intense fear, so ensure it matches the scenario. Don't say someone acted "out of fright" if they were simply a little worried.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of fright" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the reason or cause for an action. Ludwig confirms this usage, showing the phrase describes the motivation behind a subject's action.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "out of fright" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to describe an action motivated by sudden and intense fear. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across various contexts, although it is most frequently encountered in News & Media and Wiki sources. While alternatives like "due to fear" or "from fright" exist, "out of fright" specifically emphasizes the abrupt and startling nature of the fear. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with the intensity of the situation to avoid overstatement. Although the expression is not incorrect and used in english, the best usage should be done emphasizing the sudden nature of the event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

from fear

A more concise way of expressing the same cause.

due to fear

Replaces "fright" with the more general term "fear".

because of fear

Similar to "due to fear", but uses a different prepositional phrase.

motivated by fear

Emphasizes the fear as a motivating factor.

driven by fear

Similar to "motivated by fear", suggesting a strong influence.

in a panic

Focuses on the state of being panicked as the cause.

in terror

Emphasizes the extreme fear experienced.

in a state of alarm

Highlights the alarmed state as the reason for the action.

petrified with fear

Emphasizes the paralyzing effect of intense fear.

scared stiff

Idiomatic expression indicating extreme fear leading to inaction or a specific reaction.

FAQs

What does "out of fright" mean?

The phrase "out of fright" means that someone does something because they are suddenly and intensely scared or terrified.

What can I say instead of "out of fright"?

You can use alternatives like "due to fear", "because of fear", or "in a panic" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "from fright" instead of "out of fright"?

Yes, "from fright" is a correct and more concise alternative to "out of fright". Both phrases indicate that fear is the cause of an action or behavior.

How does "out of fright" differ from "stage fright"?

"Out of fright" refers to a general, often sudden, fear response, while "stage fright" is a specific type of anxiety related to performing in front of an audience.