01
der Schreck
fright
A sudden, brief feeling of fear or being startled, triggered by an unexpected event.
example
Als die Tür plötzlich aufging, bekam ich einen furchtbaren Schreck.
When the door suddenly opened, I got a terrible fright.
der Schreck
fright
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The noun 'der Schreck' (fright) is closely related to the verb 'erschrecken' (to be startled / to scare). When something unexpected happens, you are startled and get a fright.
EXAMPLE
Ich bin furchtbar erschrocken, als du plötzlich hinter der Tür standest.
I was terribly startled when you suddenly stood behind the door.
Typical collocations
'Schreck' (fright) is often combined with certain verbs. You 'bekommt einen Schreck' (get a fright), or you 'jagt jemandem einen Schreck ein' (give someone a fright / scare someone).
EXAMPLE
Mit dem lauten Geräusch hast du mir einen gehörigen Schreck eingejagt.
With that loud noise, you gave me quite a fright.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'mit dem Schreck davonkommen' (to escape with a fright) is a fixed unit. It means that you have survived a dangerous situation without physical injuries, even though something worse could have happened.
EXAMPLE
Bei dem Unfall wurde das Fahrrad komplett zerstört, aber der Radfahrer ist mit dem Schreck davongekommen.
In the accident, the bicycle was completely destroyed, but the cyclist escaped with a fright.
Compare with
Schreck vs Angst
fear
'die Angst' and 'der Schreck' both describe unpleasant reactions to something threatening or unexpected. 'Angst' can last longer and refer to a situation, a person, or the future. 'Schreck' is usually sudden and brief: something happens unexpectedly, and you get startled. When you say someone is 'mit dem Schreck davongekommen' (escaped with a fright), you mean that nothing serious happened. For lasting fear, 'Angst' fits better; for the brief moment of being startled, use 'Schreck'.
Schreck
Nach dem kleinen Fahrradunfall kam Tom zum Glück mit dem Schreck davon.
After the minor bicycle accident, Tom fortunately escaped with just a fright.
Angst
Wegen des lauten Geräuschs im Treppenhaus bekam das Kind Angst.
Because of the loud noise in the stairwell, the child got scared.
In real life
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