put the frighteners on someone

verb

To intimidate or coerce someone using threats of violence.

“That scumbag still owes me five grand. Send Billy round to put the frighteners on him.”

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Meanings

verbput the frighteners on someone (third-person singular simple present puts the frighteners on someone, present participle putting the frighteners on someone, simple past and past participle put the frighteners on someone)

present singular third person puts the frighteners on someone · participle present putting the frighteners on someone

  1. slangTo intimidate or coerce someone using threats of violence.

    That scumbag still owes me five grand. Send Billy round to put the frighteners on him.

Cite this entry
APA

put the frighteners on someone. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/put%20the%20frighteners%20on%20someone

MLA

“put the frighteners on someone.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/put%20the%20frighteners%20on%20someone. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “put the frighteners on someone,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/put%20the%20frighteners%20on%20someone.

Source: put the frighteners on someone on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.