“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

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Present participle for to cause anxiety or worry to

irking

getting on one's nerves

bedevilling^UK

bedeviling^US

getting on your nerves

agonizing^US

rubbing up the wrong way

agonising^UK

giving someone the hump

making someone see red

besetting

getting under your skin

hurting somebody's feelings

driving round the bend

rubbing the wrong way

getting on your wick

putting someone's nose out of joint

tantalizing^US

tantalising^UK

getting your dander up

making your blood boil

giving someone the pip

driving bananas

driving round the twist

causing discomfort to

getting your hackles up

raising your hackles

making miserable

rubbing you up the wrong way

driving you up the wall

preying on your mind

ruffling one's feathers

getting across someone

causing anguish to

making wretched

giving offence to

getting up someone's nose

making somebody's hackles rise

causing resentment to

driving to distraction

hitting where one lives

sending into a rage

taking a rise out of

getting a rise out of

pushing the buttons of

sticking in one's craw

setting one's teeth on edge

treading on someone's toes

breaking the heart of

musing

labouring^UK

laboring^US

breathing down someone's neck

bringing pressure to bear on

leaning on

rattling someone's cage

putting someone off their stroke

causing someone to lose their composure

bending someone's ear

pressing the panic button

causing to feel mental strain

causing to feel emotional strain

terrorizing^US

terrorising^UK

scaring the bejesus out of

paralysing^UK

paralyzing^US

setting someone back on their heels

filling with fear

pulling the rug from under

giving someone goose pimples

pulling the rug out from under

chilling to the marrow

scaring the pants off

scaring away

giving someone the heebie-jeebies

knocking out

curdling the blood

putting the fear of God into

scaring off

throwing a curve

making one's hair stand on end

making teeth chatter

making someone jump out of their skin

making one's blood run cold

scaring the daylights out of

rousting

occupying thoughts

making someone scratch their head

accosting

taking by surprise

throwing into a panic

stopping someone in their tracks

fermenting

pouring cold water on

throwing cold water on

making flesh crawl

frightening the living daylights out of

springing on

making jump

giving someone a jolt

giving someone a fright

sending over the edge

giving cause for complaint

failing to satisfy

leaving dissatisfied

raising someone's eyebrows

scaring stiff

estranging

completely surprising

shaking out of your complacency

hitting like ton of bricks

taking the wind out of your sails

dashing

scaring someone out of their wits

scaring the living daylights out of

freezing your blood

getting the wind up

throwing into a blue funk

throwing into a fright

making one's flesh creep

giving one the creeps

scaring someone half to death

filling with consternation

messing up

throwing into a tizzy

more ❯

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

Verb

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Present participle for to complain or make a fuss about something

sniveling^US

snivelling^UK

turning on the waterworks

cavilling^UK

criticizing^US

caviling^US

criticising^UK

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

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Present participle for to wear away or cause damage through applied friction