Are you about to watch a scary movie? Be afraid, be very afraid. But remember, it’s just a movie, not an account of real events. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The expression ‘be afraid, be very afraid’ acts as a warning to others. It means a dangerous event is on its way, and you should prepare for the worst.
However, most people use the phrase with humor. It’s a way to embellish the feeling of fear created by a response to an environmental stimulus.
In most cases, the speaker refers to something unwelcome but not dangerous. For instance, if you’re watching a scary movie and the killer is about to strike.
Example Usage
"I have a poodle with a bad attitude at home. Don't get in his way, or he'll bite you. Be afraid, be very afraid. He's more vicious than he looks."
"Grandma's coming for a visit this weekend, and she's going to want to give us loads of slobbery kisses. Be afraid, be very afraid."
"Yes, I'm a white belt in jiu-jitsu, and I'm lethal on the mats. Don't start a fight with me, be afraid, be very afraid."
"We all need to pay attention to world events, the economy, and geopolitics. There's a chance these people could cause everything to come crumbling down. Be afraid, be very afraid."
Origin
The expression 'be afraid, be very afraid' originates from the 1986 movie 'The Fly.' The saying is the tagline for the movie, and it is featured on the movie poster. Written by David Cronenberg and starring Geena Davis as Veronica Quaife and Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle, Seth bungles an attempt at teleportation, slowly transforming him into a human-size fly.
When Brundle realizes he is starting to transform into a fly, he says to Quaife, 'don't be afraid.' She replies with the movie tagline as follows.
"No. Be afraid. Be very afraid."
However, the shorter use of the saying 'be afraid' was already used well before the movie's premiere in 1986. The earliest use of 'be afraid' comes from the TV series 'All My Children,' in an episode aired in 1970.
Phrases Similar to Be Afraid Be Very Afraid
- Be scared, be very scared.
Phrases Opposite to Be Afraid Be Very Afraid
- Don’t fear anything.
- I don’t find it scary.
What is the Correct Saying?
- Be afraid, be very afraid.
Ways People May Say Be Afraid Be Very Afraid Incorrectly
The phrase has more common use in a sarcastic or ironic sense than as a description of something scary. Using it to describe real fear isn't incorrect, but it's not the common use of the idiomatic phrase.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Be Afraid Be Very Afraid
You can use the phrase 'be afraid, be very afraid' in serious or comical situations. The term suits professional and social use, and it sometimes has a somewhat ironic meaning. For instance, you could use it when discussing how high inflation may result in the economy's collapse. That would be a serious use of the saying.
You could use it in a humorous sense with friends to describe something that's not scary. For instance, if your friend tells you his cat gets angry, and you should be afraid, be very afraid. In reality, the cat isn't something you should fear. You just need to be cautious around it.