There are lots of other words that express varying levels of fear.

Here are
some alternatives to scared and afraid. (Remember, they don’t express the
other meanings of afraid, just the one pertaining to fear.)

 Frightened means afraid or fearful.

 Terrified means to be extremely afraid.

 Spooked means to be startled, sometimes with the result of running or

stampeding in the case of animals.

 In some cases, afraid and scared are interchangeable.

 Afraid has meanings that scared does not share.

 The grammar of scared and afraid can be different in certain

constructions.

Sure, here are some expressions, phrases, collocations, and idioms related to getting scared and
fear:

Expressions and Phrases:

1. Jump out of one's skin

2. Heart in one's throat
3. Cold sweat
4. Nervous wreck
5. Scared out of one's wits
6. Shaking like a leaf
7. Terrified beyond words
8. Quaking in one's boots
9. Butterflies in the stomach
10. Hair standing on end

Collocations:
 1. Overcome with fear
2. Paralyzed with fright
3. Trembling with terror
4. Fearful anticipation
5. Deep-seated fear
6. Instill fear
7. Face one's fears
8. Heart-pounding fear
9. Unfounded fears
10. Petrified with fear

Idioms:

1. Chicken out (of something)

2. Frighten the life out of someone
3. Scaredy-cat
4. Spine-chilling
5. Have a heart in one's mouth
6. Scare someone to death
7. Run a mile
8. Have the heebie-jeebies
9. Be in a cold sweat
10. Jump at shadows

Of course, here are some simpler expressions, phrases, collocations, and idioms related to getting
scared and fear that would be suitable for pre-intermediate students:

Expressions and Phrases:

1. Scared stiff
2. Really frightened
3. Afraid of the dark
4. Feel nervous
5. Scare easily
6. Get the chills
7. Jump at sudden noises
8. Have a fright
9. Tremble with fear
10. Heart racing

Collocations:

1. Face your fears

2. Scared of heights
3. Nervous wreck
4. Overcome fear
 5. Fearful thoughts
6. Terrified expression
7. Get scared easily
8. Heart pounding
9. Shiver with fear
10. Scary movie

Idioms:

1. Scared out of your wits

2. Have butterflies in your stomach
3. Like a deer in headlights
4. Scare the pants off someone
5. Chicken out
6. A scaredy-cat
7. Heart in your mouth
8. Jump at the slightest noise
9. Have the jitters
10. Feel like a scared rabbit

These simpler expressions and idioms can help pre-intermediate students describe fear and being
scared more fluently and expressively.