to chill to the bone

Examples

• All

• But Rhett didn't come, and when Scarlett left the carefully chosen bench in the immaculately maintained formal garden behind the house, she felt chilled to the bone.

  Fiction book (1991)

• You must be chilled to the bone, Mr. Fowler.

  The Quiet American (1958)

• Simply entering this area of the mine could chill a person to the bone in a few minutes.

  Fiction book (1995)

• When I step out in the garden, I am immediately chilled to the bone.

  Fiction book (1996)

• I was chilled to the bone.

  Academic text (1994)

• I'm chilled to the bone.

  Malice (1993)

• She was chilled to the bone.

  Fiction book (1995)

• It was All Hallows Eve, and I, still locked behind the cloakroom door, suddenly felt a wind sweep through the darkness, chilling me to the bone.

  Lady in White (1988)

• It is two and a half hours later when we get alongside the ship, and I am chilled to the bone, sick and dizzy for want of food and sleep, and I climb stumblingly across the narrow, slippery, plunging path that leads from one ship to the other.

  Blog text (22)

• The howling wind and dark shadows in the forest chilled me to the bone.

Synonyms

S

to scare someone to death

vsto chill to the bone

• Informal

59 3.7

To frighten someone very much

is about a deep emotional effect rather than only severe fright

G

to give someone chills

vsto chill to the bone

12 5.8

To cause a sudden feeling of fear or strong excitement that makes someone shiver

is focused on extreme cold or fear rather than mixed excitement or awe

S

to scare the bejesus out of

vsto chill to the bone

• Informal

5 8.8

To make someone very afraid

is a deep effect felt over time rather than only a sudden shock

B

to blood run cold

vsto chill to the bone

• Informal

3 8.1

Feel sudden, strong fear or shock

is a deep lasting effect of cold or fear rather than only sudden shock

S

to send chills down someone's spine

vsto chill to the bone

• Informal

1 5.9

Make someone feel a sudden strong fear or excitement

is a deep feeling of fear or cold rather than a quick back reaction

S

to send shivers down someone's spine

vsto chill to the bone

• Informal

1 6.0

Cause someone to feel a sudden strong fear or excitement

is a deep feeling of fear or cold rather than only a quick tingling

S

shiver down someone's spine

vsto chill to the bone

• Informal

1 5.9

A sudden feeling of fear or excitement that moves along your back

is a stronger deep feeling of cold or fear rather than mere unease

M

to make someone's skin crawl

vsto chill to the bone

• Informal

7.4

Cause a strong feeling of fear or disgust with a creepy physical feeling

focuses more on extreme cold or fear rather than disgust or mere unease

Antonyms

C

comfort

190 1.0

A feeling of physical ease and being free from pain

R

to reassure

163 3.4

To make someone feel less worried and more confident

How Frightened

to terrify

148 3.2

to chill to the bone

• Informal

3 6.3

to frighten

540 1.0

to unsettle

7 4.9

to startle

131 3.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology