put the fear of God into en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
- To cause someone to repent through fear of the wrath of God.
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(idiomatic) To cause someone to fear abjectly in other contexts; to terrify completely.
It was the ‘minnie-woffers’ which put the fear of God into them.
1915 August, Red Feather, 86/1
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(idiomatic) To cause someone to obey through fear in other contexts; to terrify into submission.
Well, I'll continue to put the fear of God into the troops for as long as I can... but there comes a time... We're nowhere near it yet, of course...
1990, House of Cards, season 1, episode 1:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| puts the fear of God into | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| put the fear of God into | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| put the fear of God into | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| rub the fear of God into | alternative | lexicographic | |
| putting the fear of God into | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Translations (2)
de das Fürchten lehren (put the fear of God into) · de in Angst und Schrecken versetzen (put the fear of God into)