心惊肉跳 (xīn jīng ròu tiào) — to tremble with fear; to be deeply alarmed or terrified

Definition

Examples

• 听到那个恐怖的消息，她感到心惊肉跳，整夜没睡。
  Tīng dào nà ge kǒng bù de xiāo xi, tā gǎn dào xīn jīng ròu tiào, zhěng yè méi shuì.
  Upon hearing that terrifying news, she felt her heart pound and her flesh creep, and she didn't sleep all night.
• 那个男孩从悬崖边掉下去的一瞬间，所有的人都心惊肉跳。
  Nà ge nán hái cóng xuán yá biān diào xià qù de yí shùn jiān, suǒ yǒu de rén dōu xīn jīng ròu tiào.
  The moment that boy fell off the cliff edge, everyone was scared out of their wits.
• 每次坐过山车，我都会觉得心惊肉跳，但还是想再试一次。
  Měi cì zuò guò shān chē, wǒ dōu huì jué de xīn jīng ròu tiào, dàn hái shì xiǎng zài shì yí cì.
  Every time I ride a roller coaster, I feel terrified, but I still want to try it again.