Read on blog or Reader Pascal Tréguer posted: "The Australian and New-Zealand phrase to frighten (also to scare) seven bells out of somebody means: to terrify somebody. This phrase is probably modelled on the earlier to knock seven bells out of somebody, which means: to give a severe beating to someb" word histories Read on blog or Reader 'to frighten seven bells out of somebody': meaning and origin Pascal Tréguer February 18 New Zealand (1890) & Australia (1891)—to terrify somebody—probably modelled on the earlier phrase 'to knock seven bells out of somebody' ('to give a severe beating to somebody') Read more of this post Comment Like You can also reply to this email to leave a comment.

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