put the fear of God into

Terrify someone, as in The school counselor put the fear of God into the girls when she talked about AIDS. This phrase alludes to a time when most people had a mingled feeling of dread and reverence toward the deity. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

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"It put the fear of God into me," Moore said, laughing.

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If that’s not enough to put the fear of God into a parent, I don’t know what is.

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"It put the fear of God into me, but after reading about FIV I learned it needn't be a death sentence and that cats who have it can lead fairly normal lives if cared for properly," she said.

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Reddick, whose voice was well-trained, resonant and easy on the ear, didn’t have to get loud to put the fear of God into a character or viewer; you could sense well enough the roiling currents beneath a placid surface.

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She should have put the fear of God into the Greens—or, at least, the fear of the Department of Justice.

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put the cart before the horse put the finger on

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