chết khiếp
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To be scared to death; to be frightened out of one's wits: An expression describing an extreme state of fear or terror, so intense it feels as if one could die from it. It is used hyperbolically and is not literal.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Nghe tiếng hét trong đêm, tôi chết khiếp. (Hearing the scream in the night, I was scared to death.)
- Nhìn thấy con rắn, đứa bé chết khiếp, đứng im không dám nhúc nhích. (Seeing the snake, the child was frightened out of its wits, standing still and not daring to move.)
Advanced Usage
- The phrase is often used for dramatic, colloquial emphasis. It can describe a sudden, paralyzing fright.
Variants and Related Words
- Sợ khiếp vía (verb phrase): to be terrified; to have one's soul scared out of one's body. A very similar idiom emphasizing extreme fright.
- Cô ấy sợ khiếp vía khi thấy bóng người trong gương. (She was terrified when she saw a figure in the mirror.)
Synonyms
- To be terrified: to be filled with overwhelming fear.
- To be petrified: to be so frightened as to be unable to move.
- To be scared stiff: to be extremely frightened.
Related Idioms
- Hồn xiêu phách lạc: (idiom) to be scared out of one's wits; to have one's soul and spirit dispersed. This describes a similar state of extreme terror.
- Câu chuyện ma làm cho bọn trẻ hồn xiêu phách lạc. (The ghost story scared the children out of their wits.)