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Glite Dictionary
to jump out of one's skin

to jump out of one's skin

5 7.7
To be very surprised and move suddenly because of fear
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : saltar de susto
  • Liberty nearly jumped out of her skin.
  • nearly jump out of one's skin
  • almost jump out of one's skin
  • practically jump out of one's skin

Examples

  • I just jumped out of my skin when that photographer's flashbulb went.

    Stage Fright (1950)

  • The Captain nearly jumps out of his skin, barely keeping control.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • That boom almost makes me jump out of my skin.

    Son of Frankenstein (1939)

  • Then the phone does ring, and Ed nearly jumps out of his skin.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • And we went along like that for a while, except I was jumping out of my skin.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Sometimes I think I'm just gonna jump out of my skin.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Adam nearly jumps out of his skin.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • In a split second, there is loud barking behind me, and I practically jump out of my skin.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • My mother stepped out of the darkness, and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • When the haunted house performer jumped out at me, I nearly jumped out of my skin with fright.

Synonyms

to start
vsto jump out of one's skin
530 1.0

To make a sudden small movement when surprised or afraid

is more about extreme fright and a strong bodily shock than a brief motion
to jump
vsto jump out of one's skin
217 1.0

To move or start suddenly because you are surprised

is more extreme, showing strong fright rather than just a simple movement
to startle
vsto jump out of one's skin
50 3.3

To move suddenly, for example by jumping, because you feel surprised

is more intense, producing extreme shock and a strong bodily reaction
to jolt
vsto jump out of one's skin
8 4.3

To surprise someone and make them react

is stronger, causing extreme fright and a sudden physical reaction

Antonyms

to calm down
  • Informal
594 1.4

To become less angry, excited, or upset

How Startled

to jump out of one's skin
  • Informal
5 7.7
to start
530 1.0
to flinch
71 4.1

Surface Forms

jump out of one's skin infinitive
jumped out of one's skin past
jumped out of one's skin past participle
jumping out of one's skin present participle
jumps out of one's skin third person singular

Morphology

jump + out + of + one's + skin

The phrase evokes a vivid physical image—'jump' + 'out' suggests a sudden, startled movement—which gives learners a strong clue that it denotes a sharp fright or surprise. However, 'out of one's skin' is a figurative extension (skin as bodily boundary) and not strictly compositional, so the precise idiomatic sense and intensity are not fully predictable without prior exposure; cross-linguistic equivalents exist but vary, supporting a partial (not full) transparency.

Etymology

The idiom jump out of one's skin paints a picture of someone so surprised they seem to jump out of their own skin. The image of a sudden jump from your skin shows a strong physical reaction, so the phrase now means 'to be extremely startled'.