scared myself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scared myself" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where you caused yourself to feel fear or anxiety, often in a surprising or unexpected way. Example: "While watching the horror movie alone at night, I scared myself with my own imagination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

I was proper angry; I even scared myself".

The Guardian

By the end of the novel, I had scared myself witless.

The Guardian - Books

Our children were small and needed an afternoon sleep, during which I sat on the veranda and readPatricia Highsmith novels, one after the other, and scared myself thoroughly.

The New York Times - Books

I've not seen a fire this big before … I wasn't scared myself but we were all worried about the people in the building".

The Guardian

I also had incalculable amounts of fun and on two occasions scared myself half to death — once in seas swollen by Hurricane Bill that were almost more than my boat could handle, and once by almost falling overboard before I was even out of the harbor.

The New York Times - Travel

He gets so scared but it's difficult when I'm scared myself.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

They also added rhythm with a wide array of percussion instruments, including a finger cymbal, expertly deployed by Ms. Rabin during "I Scare Myself".

The New York Times - Arts

Rachel: There isn't one song that reminds me of Andy, but Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks have a great one, "I Scare Myself," which always makes us both laugh.

The New York Times

MR: "I Scare Myself" was your cover of the old Dan Hicks song, right?

Huffington Post

I'm scaring myself.

The Guardian - Music

"I sometimes scare myself I'm so obsessive".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scared myself" when you want to convey a sense of surprise or a self-inflicted feeling of fear due to your own actions, thoughts, or imagination. For example, "I was reading a book late at night and I scared myself with the vivid descriptions."

Common error

Avoid using "scared myself" too frequently in your writing, as it can become repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "frightened myself" or "terrified myself" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scared myself" functions as a reflexive verb phrase, where the action of scaring is directed back to the subject. Ludwig confirms this is a correct and usable phrase. The examples demonstrate its use in various narrative contexts, such as reading scary books or experiencing sudden noises.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Science

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scared myself" is a grammatically sound and usable reflexive verb phrase, primarily employed to describe situations where an individual causes themselves to experience fear or anxiety. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and demonstrates its use across various contexts, predominantly in news and media. While not exceptionally common, it is a valuable phrase for conveying self-induced fear, and understanding its nuances and related phrases can enhance the precision and impact of your writing. Using synonyms such as "frightened myself" or "terrified myself" can also add variety and nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

frightened myself

Replaces "scared" with a synonym of similar intensity.

terrified myself

Increases the intensity of the fear experienced.

shocked myself

Shifts the focus to a feeling of surprise and slight fear.

startled myself

Emphasizes a sudden, unexpected moment of fear.

gave myself a fright

Uses a more idiomatic expression for inducing fear in oneself.

worried myself sick

Focuses on the anxiety and concern that one caused oneself.

panicked myself

Highlights the feeling of intense anxiety and loss of control.

spooked myself

Offers a more casual and playful way to describe scaring oneself.

unnerved myself

Describes a feeling of anxiety or unease that one brought upon oneself.

intimidated myself

Focuses on a feeling of being daunted or threatened by one's own actions or thoughts.

FAQs

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

You can use "scared myself" to describe a situation where you caused yourself to feel fear or anxiety, often unexpectedly. For example, "I "scared myself" when I heard a loud noise in the middle of the night."

What is a synonym for "scared myself"?

Alternatives include "frightened myself", "terrified myself", or "startled myself". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "scared myself" grammatically correct?

Yes, "scared myself" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb "scare" with the reflexive pronoun "myself" to indicate that the subject caused fear in themselves.

What's the difference between "scared myself" and "was scared"?

"Scared myself" implies that you were the agent causing your own fear, while "was scared" simply describes a state of being afraid, regardless of the cause. For example, "I "scared myself" by watching a horror movie," versus "I was scared by the thunder."