such a fright

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "such a fright" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or experience that caused fear or shock. Example: "When I saw the spider crawling on my bed, it gave me such a fright that I jumped back in surprise."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

They got such a fright being torn out of bed on Tuesday night".

The Guardian - Opinion

The worst thing that could happen now would be for the world to catch such a fright at the prospect of human clones that much promising work in genetic engineering is robbed of funding or banned outright.

The Economist

It looked a decent occasion in Melbourne on Sunday, but on balance I would rather have been in Whangerei to see the Samoans give the Kiwis such a fright.

The Guardian - Sport

I don't know what he did, as I had just stepped out of the room to fetch something when I heard a scream…they got such a fright.

TechCrunch

The bosses had such a fright that now they're happy!

Huffington Post

The only Republican to get such a fright was Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida's 27th District.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Best of all was doing it with girls, because they lost their marbles on account of having such a big fright.

The New Yorker

One summer night, he "was suddenly waked in a Fright with such loud Claps of Thunder … & every clap … both preceded & attended with Flashes of lightning so numerous … & so dazling, that [he] began to imagine … the Day of Judgment's being come".

SEP

The question becomes why we develop such a high level of fright about such a low-level probability.

The New Yorker

As such, a touch of stage fright is only natural.

Vice

MP: Well, I think I always loved playing music, but then I discovered that there was such a thing as stage fright when I got out playing on the street and I realized no matter where you go you're on stage.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "such a fright" to describe a sudden and often unexpected feeling of fear or alarm. It's suitable for narratives or descriptions where you want to convey a sense of being startled.

Common error

Avoid overusing "such a fright" in situations where the level of fear or surprise is minimal. Opt for a milder expression if the context doesn't warrant strong emotional language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "such a fright" functions as a noun phrase that describes an experience causing sudden fear or shock. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Examples show it used to express a surprising and often alarming event.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "such a fright" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe a sudden experience of fear or shock. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's suitable for various contexts, though more prevalent in news and media. Alternatives include "such a scare" and "such a shock". When using it, ensure the intensity of the phrase matches the actual level of surprise or alarm you intend to convey, avoiding overuse in milder situations. While versatile, it's most impactful when used to vividly depict a startling moment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

such a scare

Replaces "fright" with "scare", maintaining the same core meaning of a sudden feeling of alarm.

such a shock

Substitutes "fright" with "shock", emphasizing the surprise element of the experience.

quite a scare

Uses "quite a" instead of "such a", slightly altering the emphasis but retaining the meaning.

quite a shock

Combines "quite a" with "shock", similar to "quite a scare" but focusing on surprise.

a terrible fright

Adds the adjective "terrible" to intensify the feeling of fear or alarm.

a sudden fright

Adds the adjective "sudden" to emphasize the unexpected nature of the fright.

a nasty fright

Replaces "such a fright" with the more descriptive "a nasty fright", suggesting an unpleasant experience.

a real fright

Emphasizes the genuineness of the fear experienced.

a great fright

Uses "great" to intensify the feeling of fear, though it might sound slightly dated.

a bad scare

Combines "bad" with "scare" to convey a sense of something unpleasant and alarming.

FAQs

How can I use "such a fright" in a sentence?

You can use "such a fright" to describe a sudden and unexpected feeling of fear or alarm. For example, "The loud bang gave me "such a fright" that I jumped."

What can I say instead of "such a fright"?

You can use alternatives like "such a scare", "such a shock", or "quite a scare" depending on the context.

Is "such a fright" formal or informal?

"Such a fright" is generally considered neutral in formality and can be used in both informal and semi-formal contexts, although it's less common in highly formal writing.

What is the difference between "such a fright" and "a fright"?

"Such a fright" emphasizes the intensity or degree of the fright, whereas "a fright" simply indicates that someone experienced a fright. The addition of "such" intensifies the experience.