jump scare

Definitions

1. The technique, typically used in horror films and video games, of having something occur suddenly and without warning to frighten the audience.
2. The sudden arrival or advent of something unpleasant.
   broadly, humorous
3. A fright caused by this.

Equivalents

Examples

“They'd do something horrible, maybe kill⟳ off a few protagonists, and then make⟳ people sit⟳ around waiting for the next terrible thing to come⟳ along. They called it “setting up a jump⟳ scare⟳.””

“Drag⟳ Me to Hell capitalizes on the jump⟳ scare⟳, scattering it liberally throughout the film to the point⟳ where it becomes almost numbing.”

“This quiet is broken suddenly with an initial jump⟳ scare⟳ of the puppet's iconic laughter.”

“The loud knock⟳ at the door gave me a terrible jump⟳ scare⟳.”

CEFR level