scare away/off

phrasal verb

scared away/off; scaring away/off; scares away/off

: to cause (someone or something) to go away and stay away because of fear or because of possible trouble, difficulty, etc.

The dog scared the prowler away.

The noise scared off the birds.

Tourists have been scared off by the recent violence in the city.

Examples of scare away/off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Especially with Edison facing dozens of lawsuits related to the Eaton fire, which may have been sparked by one if its electric lines, utilities say doing anything that could scare off investors or spook credit-rating agencies could lead to higher rates, by raising the cost of borrowing money. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2025

For instance, the company might have a poor reputation—think consistent Glassdoor reviews citing toxic culture, high turnover, or unethical practices—which can scare off candidates who value a healthy work environment. —Jack Kelly, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

Kim's injury status may have also helped scare off the Yankees. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025

Balance Ambition With Realism Inflating numbers can scare away backers, while underselling stunts potential. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025