Fear gripped his heart.

Meaning: This means a feeling of being afraid or anxious held or grasped his heart tightly.

Choice of Words: Fear is a feeling of being afraid or anxious. Gripped means to hold or grasp tightly. Heart is an organ that pumps blood through the body. When you put them together, "Fear gripped his heart" means that a feeling of being afraid or anxious held or grasped his heart tightly.

Alternative Expressions

Fear clutched his heart.

Meaning: This means that the person was feeling very scared and anxious. It's like saying, He was so scared that he felt like his heart was being squeezed.

Choice of Words: Fear is a noun that refers to a feeling of worry or unease. Clutched is a verb that means to grab or hold something tightly. Heart is a noun that refers to the organ that pumps blood throughout the body. When you put them together, "Fear clutched his heart" means that the person was feeling very scared and anxious.

Terror filled his chest.

Meaning: This means that the person was feeling very terrified. It's like saying, He was so scared that he felt like his chest was going to explode.

Choice of Words: Terror is a noun that refers to a feeling of extreme fear. Filled is a verb that means to make something full. Chest is a noun that refers to the part of the body between the neck and the stomach. When you put them together, "Terror filled his chest" means that the person was feeling very terrified.

Dread washed over him.

Meaning: This means that the person was feeling very anxious and worried about something that was going to happen. It's like saying, He was so scared that he felt like he was going to be sick.

Choice of Words: Dread is a noun that refers to a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that is going to happen. Washed is a verb that means to cover something with water or another liquid. Over is a preposition that means on top of or covering something. When you put them together, "Dread washed over him" means that the person was feeling very anxious and worried about something that was going to happen.

Related Expressions