that freaked me

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that freaked me" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something caused you to feel startled, scared, or surprised. Example: "The sudden loud noise in the dark alley really freaked me out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

"For me, when I saw American Werewolf in London, there was nothing that freaked me out more than that," Roth told the MIPTV audience.

The Guardian

Cameron started out very promising but to me the one thing that freaked me out was he was cutting subsidies for solar, and that was a bad situation and the antithesis of the Paris climate talks.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, instead of wishing you a happy new year, let me pass on this memory from Delia Ephron: There was also a song that freaked me out: 'What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?' Ella Fitzgerald sang it (quite inappropriately, in my opinion) on a record of Christmas songs.

The Guardian - Books

She has this presence, this energy that freaked me out.

Huffington Post

It wasn't the idea of getting bit that freaked me out.

Vice

There were a lot of things that freaked me out, but the main one was that the cops fired several bullets through the neighbour's windows, as well as shooting her several times.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

"It's not the smell — it's the other stuff that freaks me out," he said.

The New Yorker

Gail: The thing that freaks me out most is the regional divide we're seeing.

The New York Times

Which is to say: "Make me a general-purpose computer that runs all programs except for one program that freaks me out".

TechCrunch

"It's the men in capris that freak me out".

Huffington Post

"Here's the thing that freaks me out," she began.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that freaked me" in writing, consider the audience and tone. It's suitable for casual conversation, personal blogs, and informal narratives, but might be less appropriate for formal reports or academic papers.

Common error

Avoid using "that freaked me" in professional or academic settings where a more formal or neutral tone is expected. Opt for alternatives like "that surprised me" or "that alarmed me" to maintain a level of professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that freaked me" functions as an expression of personal reaction. Grammatically, it is a clause where 'that' refers to a preceding event or situation, 'freaked' is the verb in the past tense, and 'me' is the object pronoun. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that freaked me" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express a personal reaction of being startled, scared, surprised, or disturbed. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is usable in written English and can be effectively used in informal communication. While the phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts, it's important to avoid using it in formal or professional settings where a more neutral tone is expected. Consider alternatives like "that surprised me" or "that alarmed me" to maintain an appropriate level of professionalism. As Ludwig's examples demonstrate, the phrase is versatile for conveying a range of emotional responses in various informal scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that scared me

This alternative uses a more direct term for the emotion experienced.

that frightened me

This alternative offers a slightly more formal way to express being scared.

that shocked me

This alternative emphasizes surprise and disbelief more than fear.

that startled me

This alternative highlights the suddenness of the surprise.

that unnerved me

This alternative suggests a feeling of unease and anxiety.

that disturbed me

This alternative focuses on the sense of being bothered or troubled.

that unsettled me

This alternative implies a feeling of instability and discomfort.

that creeped me out

This alternative conveys a sense of disgust and unease.

that gave me the creeps

This alternative uses a more figurative way to express feeling unnerved.

that made me uneasy

This alternative emphasizes the lack of comfort experienced.

FAQs

What does "that freaked me" mean?

The phrase "that freaked me" means that something startled, scared, surprised, or disturbed you. It expresses a personal reaction to an event or piece of information.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "that freaked me"?

It's appropriate to use "that freaked me" in informal settings like casual conversations, personal anecdotes, or informal writing. Avoid using it in formal or professional contexts.

What are some alternatives to "that freaked me"?

Some alternatives include "that scared me", "that surprised me", "that unsettled me", or "that alarmed me" depending on the specific emotion you want to convey.

Is "that freaked me out" grammatically correct?

Yes, "that freaked me out" is grammatically correct and commonly used in spoken and informal written English. It follows standard English sentence structure.