“An alarming new survey has found that almost one in four parents fret constantly about whether they have the ability to raise their children properly.”

Verb

▲

To cause anxiety or worry to

irk

agonize^US

agonise^UK

antagonize^US

antagonise^UK

give someone the hump

hurt somebody's feelings

drive round the bend

rub the wrong way

get on your wick

put someone's nose out of joint

tantalize^US

tantalise^UK

drive round the twist

pressurize^US

pressurise^UK

rub you up the wrong way

make miserable

be a pain in the neck

be a thorn in someone's side

weigh heavily on someone's mind

make wretched

prey on your mind

make somebody's hackles rise

ruffle one's feathers

drive you up the wall

cause anguish to

get up someone's nose

be a thorn in someone's flesh

be a weight on someone's mind

set one's teeth on edge

scandalize^US

weigh heavily on one's mind

slur

humiliate

muse

labor^US

labour^UK

discontent

mess with someone's head

do someone's head in

disaffect

rattle someone's cage

lie heavy on someone's mind

weigh heavy on someone's mind

give offence

put down

be disagreeable

tread on someone's toes

be an affront to

put pressure on

breathe down someone's neck

be in someone's hair

bring pressure to bear on

scandalise^UK

appal^UK

eat away at one's mind

appall^US

put someone off their stroke

rattle one's cage

put into a flap

cause someone to lose their composure

throw into a tizz

throw into tizzy

stretch

traumatize^US

be on pins and needles

be spooked

be nervous

be anxious

have ants in one's pants

be like a cat on hot bricks

traumatise^UK

cause to feel emotional strain

cause to feel mental strain

press the panic button

demoralize^US

demoralise^UK

set someone back on their heels

terrorize^US

knock the stuffing out of

put out of countenance

bamboozle

befuddle

terrorise^UK

put the wind up

put someone off their stride

make someone scratch their head

make one's heart bleed

paralyse^UK

paralyze^US

cause to be at a stand

break someone's heart

scare the bejesus out of

bring tears to your eyes

give someone the blues

take the wind out of your sails

galvanize^US

stop someone in their tracks

galvanise^UK

scare someone out of their wits

scare the living daylights out of

put the fear of God into

fog

fill with loathing

throw a curve

throw into a blue funk

estrange

make one's hair stand on end

make one's flesh creep

break someone's spirit

pull the rug from under

roust

dizzy

pull the rug out from under

balk^US

baulk^UK

get on the wrong side of

make an enemy of somebody

dampen someone's spirit

knock the wind out of

occupy thoughts

drive you to distraction

stroke someone's hair the wrong way

humble

defeat

resent

set someone's teeth on edge

underwhelm

push someon's buttons

make someone's stomach rise

drive you round the twist

drive you round the bend

impede

catch unawares

make someone laugh on the other side of their face

make someone laugh out of the other side of their mouth

drive you off your head

make you see red

throw into a panic

send chills down the spine of

frighten to death

frighten the living daylights out of

exhaust someone's patience

grate at

lose patience

cause to lose your bearings

drive you out of your mind

make somebody's blood boil

frighten out of your wits

get on someone's case

shatter the illusions of

burst bubble

dampen the spirits of

blow away

put out of action

strike dumb

hit like a ton of bricks

hit

take your breath away

bring around

make demands on

make severe demands on

raise someone's eyebrows

make someone's skin crawl

make someone feel sick

shake out of your complacency

hit like ton of bricks

completely surprise

make someone's blood run cold

invigorate^US

make someone want to throw up

make someone feel nauseous

scare witless

screw up

mess up

fill with consternation

give someone goose pimples

give someone the heebie-jeebies

energize^US

harsh someone's mellow

scare off

make teeth chatter

bear down

make someone's heart bleed

throw into a fright

give one the creeps

make one's blood run cold

energise^UK

envigorate^UK

make someone jump out of their skin

scare someone half to death

have an adverse effect on

more ❯

“You break the rules of your people, invite danger upon yourself, and fret your mother.”

Verb

▲

To complain or make a fuss about something

criticize^US

criticise^UK

kick up a stink about

make a mountain out of a molehill

make a song and dance

balk^US

baulk^UK

express disapproval of

talk under your breath

make a big thing out of

complain vehemently about

wring one's hands over

express objections to

remonstrate against

be in opposition

argue against

lodge a protest against

express disagreement with

make a protest against

protest strongly at

declaim against

complain vociferously about

disagree violently with

oppose strongly

put up a fight against

complain bitterly about

take great exception to

cry over spilt milk^UK

cry over spilled milk^US

beat one's breast about

beat one's breast

shoot off one's mouth

more ❯

“Young people continue to lead in adopting and testing new platforms and digital literacies, and their elders still fret and complain about them.”

Verb

▲

To wear away or cause damage through applied friction