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Meaning of scare straight | Babel Free

Verb CEFR B2

Definitions

To frighten (someone) to such a degree that a significant improvement in behavior results.

idiomatic, transitive

Examples

“Indeed, there is a streak of Reaganomics that believes the only way to motivate⟳ American workers is to scare⟳ them straight with unemployment charts.”
“Thomas credited the boot camp for scaring him straight.”
“Slimmed down and scared straight after his bypass surgery, Clinton brokers a deal⟳ to get⟳ sugary drinks out of schools.”

CEFR level

B2
Upper Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.
See all B2 English words →

See also

scare the bejeebers out of scare the hell out of scare the hoes scare the horses scare the life out of scare the living daylights out of

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