plain scared

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plain scared" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a straightforward or uncomplicated feeling of fear or anxiety. Example: "When I heard the loud noise outside, I was just plain scared."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

They mostly sounded plain scared.

The Economist

And now, she is just plain scared.

The New York Times

Sceptics counter that despite priding himself on his fearlessness, Mr Mayweather is just plain scared.

The Economist

Or, this was the case until Paul Nuttall somehow managed to become the only other UKIP member allowed off the compound unsupervised... Now I'm just plain scared.

Independent

Athol Fugard insisted in 1973 that Sizwe Banzi Is Dead be premiered Upstairs rather than Downstairs: partly because he was "plain scared", partly because he loved the idea of playing to 70 or so people.

The Guardian

Even in the U.S., where mammography is readily available, many women don't get screened -- maybe because they are too busy working and raising their families, don't have adequate health insurance, can't figure out how to navigate the health care system, are confused by conflicting opinions about screening or are just plain scared.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

That's just plain scare tactics, as well as upside-down economics.

Huffington Post

The piece that follows it, "The Face," just plain scares me.

Vice

Not the Meg Whitman types, but those who did not have to play the man's game to succeed, but who actually are just plain smart, and not scared of confronting the status quo.

Huffington Post

"Most investors are like, 'Yikes, why would I go into a hedge fund when I already scared of the plain-vanilla market.' " Still, some experts say, Mr. Vavilov has one competitive advantage over most hedge fund upstarts: $200 million of his own money is invested in the fund.

The New York Times

For years I have been searching, seeking, asking, everyone, anyone... feeling so desperate, scared, alone and at times just plain old crazy.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "plain scared" to describe a basic, uncomplicated feeling of fear, avoiding more complex or nuanced emotions. This phrase is ideal when you want to convey a direct and easily understood sense of fright.

Common error

While "plain scared" is acceptable in many contexts, avoid using it excessively in formal or academic writing. Opt for more sophisticated vocabulary, such as "apprehensive" or "fearful", to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plain scared" functions primarily as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of being frightened. It's a simple and direct way to express fear, as noted by Ludwig AI, making the feeling easily understood.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Wiki

18%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "plain scared" is a commonly used adjectival phrase to express a straightforward feeling of fear. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely understood. While its register leans towards neutral to informal, it appears frequently in News & Media and Wiki contexts. For formal writing, consider alternatives such as ""utterly fearful"" or "honestly anxious" to maintain a more sophisticated tone. When employing this phrase, ensure it aligns with the intended level of formality and the specific nuance of fear you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Simply frightened

This alternative uses 'frightened' instead of 'scared', offering a slightly more formal tone while maintaining the simplicity of the emotion.

Just terrified

This option uses 'terrified' to amplify the intensity of fear compared to "plain scared".

Downright afraid

Using 'downright' emphasizes the straightforward and undeniable nature of the fear, similar to 'plain'.

Utterly fearful

This alternative highlights the complete and absolute nature of being scared.

Completely spooked

This option introduces a more informal tone, suggesting a sudden and startling fear.

Totally petrified

Using 'petrified' emphasizes the immobilizing aspect of extreme fear.

Really apprehensive

This alternative conveys a sense of worry and unease about something that might happen.

Honestly anxious

This option emphasizes the internal state of worry and nervousness.

Genuinely alarmed

This expresses fear coupled with a sense of being alerted to danger.

Frankly intimidated

This suggests fear induced by feeling threatened or overawed by someone or something.

FAQs

What does "plain scared" mean?

The phrase "plain scared" means simply or obviously frightened; it expresses a straightforward or uncomplicated feeling of fear.

How can I use "plain scared" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe someone's feelings, like: "After watching the horror movie, I was just "utterly fearful"." or "He admitted he was "downright afraid" of public speaking."

Which is more appropriate, "plain scared" or "simply scared"?

Both are appropriate, but "plain scared" emphasizes the basic, unadorned nature of the fear. "Simply scared" might be preferred when you want to convey that the fear is not mixed with other emotions.

What are some alternatives to saying someone is "plain scared"?

You can use alternatives like "just terrified", ""utterly fearful"", or "honestly anxious" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.