scared look

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scared look" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's facial expression that indicates fear or anxiety. Example: "When she heard the loud noise, she turned to me with a scared look on her face."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

When you're scared, look to see if there's a real threat.

Huffington Post

When Irwin discovered Adler was wearing a feminine-looking watch around his hand, the Hall of Famer gave a scared look to the crowd and positioned himself further away from Adler.

Los Angeles Times

She gave me a quick, scared look.

The New Yorker

The attendant placed the film in a flat silver box marked "Urgent," gave a scared look about him, and moved toward the door.

The New Yorker

Judging by the scared look in his eyes, as he told the story, the old Smang had felt the fear of imminent death very close at hand that day long ago in the quiet forests at the back of Gnong Korbu.

Cornell University

For instance, I remember saying to my teenage friend Emma once, somewhere in the late 80s: "There's a really good group called The Smiths – have you heard them?" She went all quiet, gave me a scared look and then said: "Julie.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Scared looks by Americans for your beard or hijab?

The Guardian - Opinion

Golden Driver's lithe, slightly scared looking drummer wears a T-shirt with WARHOL emblazoned across it in bold capitals.

The Guardian - Music

"I don't like seeing her scared, looking at me like 'Oh, no, what's happening?' " Mendez says.

Science Magazine

Then we flash to a close-up shot of some Storm Troopers and a scared looking Daisy Ridley scooting off across the desert.

Forbes

The cops walked up to the girls and I immediately saw the scared looks on their faces.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scared look" to vividly describe a character's immediate reaction to something frightening or unsettling. It's more impactful than simply stating they were scared.

Common error

While effective, overusing "scared look" can become repetitive. Vary your descriptions by focusing on specific facial features or behaviors that indicate fear, such as wide eyes, trembling lips, or a quickened pulse.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scared look" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It vividly describes a specific visual manifestation of fear, indicating how someone appears or what their expression conveys. As Ludwig AI explains, it describes someone's facial expression that indicates fear or anxiety.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Wiki

27%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Science

9%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scared look" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to depict fear through facial expressions. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, Wiki, and Academic contexts. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives like "fearful expression" or "apprehensive demeanor" may be preferred in certain situations. When using "scared look", aim for vividness and avoid overuse. The phrase effectively conveys immediate fear but can be replaced with more descriptive alternatives to prevent repetition. As seen across Ludwig examples, "scared look" creates an atmosphere of fear.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Fearful expression

Replaces "scared" with "fearful" and "look" with "expression", focusing on the outward display of fear.

Frightened gaze

Substitutes "scared" with "frightened" and "look" with "gaze", suggesting a prolonged or intense stare of fear.

Anxious appearance

Shifts the focus to general anxiety rather than specific fear, using "appearance" instead of "look".

Terrified countenance

Uses more formal vocabulary like "terrified" and "countenance" to describe a face expressing extreme fear.

Apprehensive demeanor

Replaces the physical "look" with the more general "demeanor", suggesting an overall fearful attitude.

Panicked expression

Highlights the sense of panic and desperation in the facial expression.

Alarmed visage

Uses "alarmed" and "visage" for a more dramatic and less common phrasing.

Startled expression

Implies a sudden, unexpected fear that shows on someone's face.

Worried look

Indicates a general sense of worry that reflects in someone's expression.

Distressed appearance

Conveys that someone seems troubled or overwhelmed by fear or anxiety.

FAQs

How can I describe a character's fear without using the phrase "scared look"?

You can use alternatives like "fearful expression", "frightened gaze", or describe physical reactions such as trembling or wide eyes.

Is "scared look" too informal for formal writing?

While "scared look" is generally acceptable, in formal contexts, consider using "fearful expression" or "apprehensive demeanor" for a more sophisticated tone.

What's the difference between a "scared look" and a "worried look"?

A "scared look" indicates immediate fear or alarm, while a "worried look" suggests a more prolonged state of anxiety or concern. /s/Worried+look implies a sense of unease about something that might happen.

When is it appropriate to use "scared look" in dialogue?

It is appropriate to use it in dialogue to describe someone's immediate reaction to a startling event. For example, "Did you see the scared look on his face when the lights went out?"