scaries

English

Etymology

Plural of scary.

Noun

scaries pl (plural only)

1. (childish) A feeling of anxiety or feeling, especially that felt by children at night.
   • 1977, Hogie Wyckoff, Solving Women's Problems Through Awareness, Action, and Contact:

     She found she did not need to smoke dope to avoid bad dreams because she was no longer holding so many of her scaries down. She was able to completely stop taking Valium, which we had cautioned her was a dangerous and potentially […]

   • 2001 January 1, Gail Reichlin, Caroline Winkler, The Pocket Parent, Workman Publishing, →ISBN, page 101:

     You can, during the day, offer ideas that may help the child conquer his “scaries.” You know your child best.

   • 2020 March 10, Kim West, The Sleep Lady's Good Night, Sleep Tight: Gentle Proven Solutions to Help Your Child Sleep Without Leaving Them to Cry it Out, Hachette Go, →ISBN:

     EXPERIENCING THE SCARIES / Children at this age may get the scaries, conjuring up all sorts of gremlins and monsters at bedtime. The monsters might not be real, but your toddler's fears are very real to him. The scaries are an opportunity […]

Related terms

• Sunday scaries

See also

• blues