put the wind up (someone)
phrase
British, informal
: to make (someone) afraid or nervous
I tried to put the wind up him by threatening to call the police.
Cite this Entry
“Put the wind up (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/put%20the%20wind%20up%20%28someone%29. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
