APAD: To jump out of one's skin

本帖于 2026-03-09 08:38:47 时间, 由普通用户 最西边的岛上 编辑

"To jump out of one's skin" means to be extremely startled, frightened, or surprised by something so extreme that it feels as if one’s body is leaping out of its skin. It describes an intense physical reaction to shock, often used with "nearly" or "almost".

It conveys a visceral, almost physical response to an unexpected event, used in emotional, thrilling, or startling contexts to highlight heightened arousal or adrenaline.

An early use appears in Samuel Richardson’s 1748 novel "Clarissa". It gained traction in the 19th century, as seen in Charles Dickens’ "A Tale of Two Cities" in 1859.

- From online with editing
---------------------------------------

I bet all have had "jumped out of skin" moments. But someone like me may have a bit more than some others.微笑  Mom told me when I was little, I would jump and cry whenever hearing others talking in a loud voice.  

Many years have passed, but I still have the feeling of “ jumped out of skin” time by time when watching movies and TV shows.  Actually, I felt truly jumping out of my skin during swimming last week, when at the deep end, a man suddenly stuck his head out of the water, just a foot in front of me in my lane!  Oh Boy!!! 什么怒

Wish you all a peaceful Monday, without any "jumped out of skin" surprises. 加油

Cheers!

pic: local city swimming pool we go to (from city website)

 

所有跟帖: 

I literally jumped as a thunderbolt struck right behind -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 09:58:36

Were you riding your bike then? -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 10:01:50

was weeding w/ uncle & aunt in our cornfield. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 10:21:44

Got it. That must be very scary 4 a youngster! -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 10:31:00

I jumped out of my skin when a police lurked in the corner. -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 10:05:57

Yes, understood U perfectly! It happened 2 me a couple times -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 10:21:58

Both related w/ driving: 1s pulled by Uni police in school -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 10:24:05

when I was learning 2drive; 1s@ an intersection when turning -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 10:27:18

left 2 slow that yellow light changed 2 red b4 I was done:-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 10:29:21

Under someone's skin -永远老李- 给 永远老李 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 10:08:44

Yes, similar but a bit different: yours is more annoying -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 10:34:51

& irritating ;-) Thx 4 sharing. -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 10:36:23

Another expression with skin. -春回人间- 给 春回人间 发送悄悄话 春回人间 的博客首页 (169 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 16:07:59

Welcome 2 APAD. Hmm, an interesting expression, never heard -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 16:54:09

it b4. 2 me, 1 is a human w/ humanity 1st, b4 anything else. -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 16:56:58

But yes, I'm happy 2 b a woman above & under the skin:-) Thx -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 16:59:58

DDDDD。。。。。。。。。。 -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (214 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 11:22:18

啊!喵 !!!!!!:-)Did U ever notice the tail shape change of -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 11:37:31

frightened cats: standing upright & tripling its size ~~~ -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 03/09/2026 postreply 11:40:36

请您先登陆,再发跟帖!