put the wind up (someone)

idiom

British, informal

: to make (someone) afraid or nervous

I tried to put the wind up him by threatening to call the police.

Examples of put the wind up (someone) in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Other factors that could put the wind up investors: a rise in new coronavirus infections from variants, and signs of a pickup in options that suggest high volatility. —

Larry Light, Forbes, 28 Apr. 2021

Dictionary Entries Near put the wind up (someone)

put the whammy on someone

put the wind up (someone)

put through

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Put the wind up (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%20the%20wind%20up%20%28someone%29. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation