Example: Many children are afraid of the dark at night.
Definition
"Be afraid of" means to feel fear or anxiety about something or someone, often due to a perceived threat or danger. For example, many children are afraid of the dark at night, experiencing discomfort or worry in its presence.
The phrase "be afraid of" originates from the Old English word 'afraid,' which means 'frightened' or 'fearful.' 'Afraid' itself comes from the prefix 'a-' (on) and 'frið' (peace or safety), implying a lack of peace. The phrase has been used for centuries to describe feelings of fear or apprehension.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Be afraid of" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (A2) - set 1", containing 104 commonly used expressions.
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