One dark cold night Quinton was taking a shortcut home. It was very late, and suddenly the cry of an owl pierced the darkness. The noise must have scared the pants off Quinton for he began to run. "I wasn't scared. I was just in a rush to get home," he said. I didn't believe him. When something frightens or scares the pants off us, we are well and truly frightened!

shortcut 捷径
owl 猫头鹰
pierce 刺穿
darkness 黑暗
in a rush 匆匆忙忙地

“frighten”和“scare” 都是惊吓的意思。“frighten/scare the pants off someone” 诙谐地描绘出把某人吓得魂飞魄散。

①The new roller coaster ride at the amusement park frightened the pants off me.
乘坐公园里那辆新的滑行铁道车吓得我魂飞魄散。
②Height scares the pants off some people.
有些人怕高。