“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

rattle someone's cage

set one's teeth on edge

weigh heavily on one's mind

bustle

scandalize^US

mess with someone's head

do someone's head in

put pressure on

breathe down someone's neck

be in someone's hair

bring pressure to bear on

lean on

muse

labor^US

labour^UK

discontent

lie heavy on someone's mind

weigh heavy on someone's mind

give offence

put down

be disagreeable

tread on someone's toes

scandalise^UK

eat away at one's mind

appal^UK

appall^US

put someone off their stroke

rattle one's cage

put into a flap

cause someone to lose their composure

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

terrorise^UK

put the wind up

bowl over

put someone off their stride

let down

make sad

make someone scratch their head

make one's heart bleed

paralyse^UK

paralyze^US

cause to be at a stand

bring tears to your eyes

break someone's heart

scare the bejesus out of

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

fill with loathing

throw a curve

throw into a blue funk

make one's hair stand on end

make one's flesh creep

break someone's spirit

pull the rug from under

dizzy

exhaust

pull the rug out from under

balk^US

baulk^UK

knock the wind out of

get on the wrong side of

make an enemy of somebody

stroke someone's hair the wrong way

set someone's teeth on edge

underwhelm

push someon's buttons

push one's buttons

arouse hostility in

deflate

make someone's stomach rise

make someone laugh on the other side of their face

make someone laugh out of the other side of their mouth

torque off

throw into a panic

send chills down the spine of

frighten to death

frighten the living daylights out of

wilder

have had enough

become bored

exhaust someone's patience

grate at

lose patience

raise someone's eyebrows

shake out of your complacency

hit like ton of bricks

completely surprise

make someone's blood run cold

frighten out of your wits

fill with terror

cause to lose your bearings

harsh someone's mellow

make severe demands on

put a strain on

get on someone's case

take over

bear down

make someone's heart bleed

shatter the illusions of

burst bubble

dampen the spirits of

drive you out of your mind

drive you to distraction

make somebody's blood boil

drive you round the twist

make you see red

make livid

drive you round the bend

make someone's skin crawl

make someone feel sick

dampen someone's spirit

invigorate^US

make someone want to throw up

make someone feel nauseous

give someone goose pimples

fill with consternation

chill to the marrow

give someone the heebie-jeebies

energize^US

make one's blood run cold

make someone jump out of their skin

scare someone half to death

energise^UK

envigorate^UK

take your breath away

hit like a ton of bricks

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

go on at

make a big thing out of

complain vehemently about

wring one's hands over

express objections to

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