Fear · Feelings and energy
send shivers down someone's spine
cause fear
To make someone feel suddenly frightened or deeply uncomfortable.
This vs that
That whisper sent shivers down my spine.
The news made my blood run cold.
Hear it in real life
What did you think of the violinist?
Brilliant, but that final note sent shivers down my spine.
The sound of someone whispering behind me sent shivers down my spine.
Which sounds natural?
Psst — which one would you actually say?
Native speakers use this vivid idiom for an eerie or frightening reaction.
The mistake everyone makes
Not: The noise sent shivers in my spine.
Say: The noise sent shivers down my spine.
The fixed preposition is 'down'.
Build it
How it fits in a sentence.
send shivers down someone's spine; sent shivers down someone's spine
Phrases to borrow
More for talking about fear.
I'm scared stiff
I was scared stiff when the lights went out.
Fear words
Feelings and energy · Fear: the words around “send shivers down someone's spine”.
More connectionsMore fear words8
Your turn: say it out loud
That sound sent shivers down my spine.
Say it out loud two or three times, until it feels like yours.
send shivers down someone's spine
cause fear
“The sound of someone whispering behind me sent shivers down my spine.”
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