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Definition

To frighten (someone) to such a degree that a significant improvement in behavior results.

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In Context

  • "Indeed, there is a streak of Reaganomics that believes the only way to motivate American workers is to scare them straight with unemployment charts."
  • "Thomas credited the boot camp for scaring him straight."
  • "Slimmed down and scared straight after his bypass surgery, Clinton brokers a deal to get sugary drinks out of schools."
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See Also

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Related Idioms

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scare someone to death

To frighten someone very much.

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scare the life out of

To scare something or someone to a great degree.

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scare the living daylights out of

To scare something or someone to a large degree.

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do the math

To determine the explanation for or precise nature of a situation, suc…

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keep off the streets

To inspire or cause (someone) to avoid idleness, unemployment, poverty…

 r

run someone off their feet

To cause someone to become very busy, especially to an exhausting degr…
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