Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

make someone's hair stand on end

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.18 in modern English

Syllables: make -some-one's hair -s-tand on end
IPA

39

Scrabble Score

26

Letters

5

Syllables

12

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To frighten or scare someone.

Informal

Example Sentences

"That scene in the movie where the killer is stalking his victim made my hair stand on end."
"A commentator in the tabloid Bild said seeing signs like “Harald’s Eck” (“Harald’s Corner”) made his “hair stand on end”, and that the proper use of the genitive form would be bemoaned by lovers of the German language."

Usage

Informal

Inflected Forms

makes someone's hair stand on end (present, singular) making someone's hair stand on end (participle, present) made someone's hair stand on end (participle, past) made someone's hair stand on end (past)

Phrases

raise someone's hackles set someone's teeth on edge stand on end

Frequently Paired Words

raise someone's hackles set someone's teeth on edge stand on end

Questions

What does make someone's hair stand on end mean?: To frighten or scare someone.

How to pronounce make someone's hair stand on end

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