put the fear of God into (someone)
idiom
: to frighten (someone) very badly
The bad economic news has put the fear of God into investors.
Examples of put the fear of God into (someone) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Indeed, both Israel and the U.S. will have emerged from this war with more credibility regarding preemption against nuclear proliferators — a condition that, one hopes, will put the fear of God into rogue states thinking about pursuing their own bomb.
—
The Editors, National Review, 24 June 2025
It was also meant to put the fear of God into viewers... literally.
—Jeremy Helligar, People.com, 30 May 2025
Whatever the case, the news of the bargain-basement selloff in Britain has certainly put the fear of God into collectors of similar supernatural souvenirs.
—Joe Queenan, WSJ, 30 July 2022
Oliver believes that jettisoning the consumer-welfare standard will put the fear of God into woke corporations.
—Robert H. Bork Jr., National Review, 14 July 2021
Medieval muralists put the fear of God into churchgoers with lurid scenarios of demons and devils.
—Kat McGowan, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2019
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The Editors, National Review, 24 June 2025
It was also meant to put the fear of God into viewers... literally.
—Jeremy Helligar, People.com, 30 May 2025
Whatever the case, the news of the bargain-basement selloff in Britain has certainly put the fear of God into collectors of similar supernatural souvenirs.
—Joe Queenan, WSJ, 30 July 2022
Oliver believes that jettisoning the consumer-welfare standard will put the fear of God into woke corporations.
—Robert H. Bork Jr., National Review, 14 July 2021
Medieval muralists put the fear of God into churchgoers with lurid scenarios of demons and devils.
—Kat McGowan, Discover Magazine, 25 Mar. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Put the fear of God into (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%20the%20fear%20of%20God%20into%20%28someone%29. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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