Scare-quotes
plural noun
1.
a pair of quotation marks used around a term or phrase to indicate that the writer does not think it is being used appropriately or that the writer is using it in a specialized sense:
a “huge breakthrough” in the negotiations.
Compare air quotes.
scare quotes
plural noun
1.
quotation marks placed around a word or phrase to indicate that it should not be taken literally or automatically accepted as true
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verb (used with object), scared, scaring. 1. to fill, especially suddenly, with fear or terror; frighten; alarm. verb (used without object), scared, scaring. 2. to become frightened: That horse scares easily. noun 3. a sudden fright or alarm, especially with little or no reason. 4. a time or condition of alarm or worry: For three […]
- Scare someone shitless
scare someone shitless
- Scare tactic
noun a strategy using fear to influence the public’s reaction
- Scare the shit out of someone
scare the shit out of someone
- Scareware
noun 1. Computers. software that is sold as computer security or as an antivirus or other utility program but is either useless or is itself malware: I was a victim of scareware—I got a warning that my computer was about to fail, so I panicked and purchased the advertised software, which wiped my hard drive […]