put the fear of God into (someone)
idiom
: to frighten (someone) very badly
The bad economic news has put the fear of God into investors.
Examples of put the fear of God into (someone) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Whatever the case, the news of the bargain-basement selloff in Britain has certainly put the fear of God into collectors of similar supernatural souvenirs.
—
Joe Queenan, WSJ, 30 July 2022
Oliver believes that jettisoning the consumer-welfare standard will put the fear of God into woke corporations.
—Robert H. Bork Jr., National Review, 14 July 2021
Medieval muralists put the fear of God into churchgoers with lurid scenarios of demons and devils.
—Kat McGowan, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2019
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.
Joe Queenan, WSJ, 30 July 2022
Oliver believes that jettisoning the consumer-welfare standard will put the fear of God into woke corporations.
—Robert H. Bork Jr., National Review, 14 July 2021
Medieval muralists put the fear of God into churchgoers with lurid scenarios of demons and devils.
—Kat McGowan, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2019
Dictionary Entries Near put the fear of God into (someone)
Cite this Entry
“Put the fear of God into (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%20the%20fear%20of%20God%20into%20%28someone%29. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share