scare with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scare with" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward in certain contexts.
It can be used when describing the act of frightening someone using a specific method or tool, but it is more natural to use "scare someone with" instead. Example: "He tried to scare her with a ghost story."

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It also documents a scare with lymphoma.

The New York Times

I went to a bomb scare with Sweet Georgia Brown..

The New Yorker

The Yankees seem to have survived a scare with starter Kevin Brown.

The New York Times - Sports

Carlton gave Collingwood a massive scare with the first two goals of the last term.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Brown's companion, Barbara Washington, 35, recalled a scare with her own son in a bathtub years ago.

The New York Times

"There was a scare with respect to California strawberries being tainted and fears they could cause hepatitis," he said.

The New York Times

He asked to join Barzilay's lab not only because he found her research important, but also because she'd been through a similar scare with breast cancer.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In "Resurrection," ABC will go for a little scare with a show about an 8-year-old boy who apparently comes back from the dead.

The New York Times

MEMPHIS 78, ARKANSAS ST. 71 Will Barton scored 20 points and No. 14 Memphis (6-0) survived a scare with an overtime victory over Arkansas State.

The New York Times - Sports

We were pretty much at the mercy of Mother Nature, and we had a scare with the irukandji jellyfish, where a couple of people got stung.

Independent

No serious foreign intervention against the regime was expected, though a spurious war scare with France as the major aggressor was cooked up in 1927.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "scare with", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being used to cause the scare. For instance, "They tried to scare us with ghost stories" is more effective than "They had a scare with ghost stories".

Common error

Avoid using "scare with" when describing personal experiences of fear without an external agent. Instead of "I had a scare with the dark", use "I was scared of the dark" or "I had a frightening experience in the dark".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scare with" functions as a prepositional phrase that often modifies a verb, indicating the means or instrument used to induce fear. Ludwig AI states it might sound awkward, so consider rewording in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "scare with" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate the means by which someone or something is frightened. While commonly found in news and media, and acceptable in general conversation, Ludwig AI suggests that it can occasionally sound awkward, particularly in more formal writing. Therefore, consider alternative phrasing like ""frighten with"" or "alarm with" for enhanced clarity and impact. When using "scare with", make sure that the source of the "scare" is obvious. Pay attention to the register in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frighten with

Emphasizes the act of causing sudden fear, often more intense than a general "scare".

alarm with

Highlights the creation of anxiety or concern, often about a potential danger or problem.

intimidate with

Focuses on using fear to control or influence someone, suggesting a deliberate act of coercion.

startle with

Indicates a sudden, unexpected shock or surprise, often brief and not necessarily frightening.

threaten with

Involves expressing an intention to inflict harm or punishment, creating fear of potential negative consequences.

cause panic with

Highlights the spreading of widespread fear and disarray, often involving a large group of people.

create anxiety with

Focuses on generating a state of worry or unease, often about future events or uncertainties.

instill fear with

Emphasizes the process of gradually introducing fear or apprehension, often through repeated exposure or suggestion.

unnerve with

Suggests causing someone to lose their confidence or composure, often through subtle or unsettling means.

perturb with

Implies disturbing someone's peace of mind or tranquility, often through unexpected or unsettling information.

FAQs

How can I use "scare with" in a sentence?

Use "scare with" to indicate that someone or something is being used as the means to frighten someone, like in "He tried to "frighten with" a loud noise".

What's a good alternative to "scare with"?

Alternatives include phrases like ""frighten with"", "alarm with", or "intimidate with", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always appropriate to use "scare with"?

While grammatically acceptable, "scare with" can sometimes sound awkward. It's best suited for situations where the means of causing fear is explicit. Consider rewording if the sentence feels unclear or unnatural. If the context is informal, then it works better.

Which is correct, "scare with" or "scared of"?

The phrase "scare with" implies the use of something to frighten, whereas "scared of" expresses a state of being afraid. For example, "He tried to "scare with" a mask" versus "He was "scared of" the dark".