scared me off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scared me off" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to talk about something that caused a person to stop considering or doing something due to fear. For example: The thought of tackling such a complex project scared me off.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The childhood taunts scared me off the field, but the passion remained.

The Guardian - Sport

If I didn't know the work of David Foster Wallace, James Ryerson's essay ("Consider the Philosopher") would surely have scared me off, since it offers no hope of anything but a cerebral, intellectual access to this stunning writer.

The New York Times

At one point, he actually asked the Dahl estate for permission to stage "Matilda" and was asked to submit a score on spec. He said, "It scared me off in an instant, the word 'score.' " In 2002, he and Sarah moved to Melbourne, where he was hired by a cover band called the Sea Monkeys.

The New Yorker

It's scared me off from doing it again.

Forbes

Admittedly, my experiences in kink have somewhat scared me off from experimenting with it again for now at least.

Vice

It scared me off because it didn't really feel like it was a place for me to join".

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"Something like this scares me off," said the teacher, a 17-year Bushwick High veteran.

The New York Times

I still wonder whether this brief encounter was the defining one, scaring me off forever.

The New York Times - Magazine

That was enough to scare me off casual sex - the unpaid kind - forever.

The Guardian - Opinion

They wanted to scare me off and to make me feel that I couldn't win and that I should take the job.

The New York Times

"It didn't scare me off but it did get me thinking.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scared me off" when you want to convey that fear or apprehension led you to avoid a particular situation or action. For impact, follow it with an explanation of what specifically caused the fear.

Common error

Avoid using "scared me off" when the situation simply made you uncomfortable or uninterested, but not genuinely fearful. Reserve it for instances where legitimate fear was a key factor in your decision.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "scared me off" functions as a deterrent, indicating that something caused the speaker to avoid a particular action or situation due to fear or apprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, this expression is commonly used and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scared me off" is a phrasal verb used to express that something deterred someone from doing something due to fear or apprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. This expression appears most frequently in news and media contexts, maintaining a neutral register. While alternatives like "deterred me" or "discouraged me" exist, "scared me off" effectively conveys a sense of being frightened away from a particular situation. It's important to use the phrase accurately, reserving it for instances where genuine fear played a significant role in a decision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frightened me away

Similar to the original, but emphasizes the element of fright.

deterred me

Direct synonym indicating discouragement.

discouraged me

Implies a loss of enthusiasm or motivation due to fear.

put me off

Indicates a negative reaction or aversion.

made me think twice

Suggests a reconsideration due to potential negative consequences.

dissuaded me

Someone actively convinced speaker to not do something.

intimidated me

The speaker experienced a feeling of intimidation.

caused me to hesitate

Speaker paused as a result of fear.

made me reluctant

Speaker was unwilling due to feeling of fear.

gave me cold feet

Idiomatic expression for sudden fear and unwillingness.

FAQs

How can I use "scared me off" in a sentence?

You can use "scared me off" to describe something that deterred you from doing something due to fear or apprehension. For example, "The high cost of repairs "scared me off" from buying the old house."

What's a more formal alternative to "scared me off"?

While "scared me off" is perfectly acceptable in many contexts, you might consider alternatives like "deterred me", "discouraged me", or "dissuaded me" in more formal writing. They all convey a similar meaning of being discouraged from something, but with varying degrees of formality.

Is it correct to say "scared off me" instead of "scared me off"?

No, the correct phrasing is "scared me off". The word order matters in this phrasal verb. Saying "scared off me" is grammatically incorrect and would sound unnatural to native English speakers.

What's the difference between "scared me off" and "intimidated me"?

"Scared me off" implies a general feeling of fear or apprehension that led you to avoid something. "Intimidated me", on the other hand, suggests a feeling of being daunted or threatened by someone or something, causing you to feel less confident or capable.