“被吓死”常见的英文表达有 be scared to death、be frightened to death 或者 be terrified to death 。
be scared to death:侧重于表达因极度恐惧而可能产生的严重后果(如“被吓死”这种感觉),在日常交流和较为轻松的语境中较为常用。
例句:The sudden loud noise scared him to death.(那突如其来的巨大响声把他吓死了。)
be frightened to death:与 “be scared to death” 意思相近,都强调极度恐惧,“frightened” 更正式一些,在书面语和正式场合也经常使用。
例句:She was frightened to death when she saw the ghost.(她看到鬼时,被吓得要死。)
be terrified to death: “terrified” 表达恐惧的程度更深,“be terrified to death” 进一步强化了这种极度恐惧到近乎死亡的感受,在强调极度惊恐的语境中使用较多。
例句:The children were terrified to death by the fierce dog.(孩子们被那只凶猛的狗吓得要死。 )