Cool MateAfraid vs He's shitting bricks
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Afraid
Top 2,000 (common)A1adjective
He's shitting bricks
SlangBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: AfraidMost common: Afraid
| Afraid | He's shitting bricks | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈfreɪd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈfreɪd/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ʃɪtɪŋ brɪks//🇺🇸 //ʃɪtɪŋ brɪks// |
| Meaning | feeling fear or worry about something | He's very worried or scared. |
| Example | She is afraid of the dark. | When he realized the exam was today, he started shitting bricks. |
| Register | Neutral | Slang |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, extremely, rather, very, for, of, nothing to be afraid of, be, feel, look, extremely, rather, very, for, of, nothing to be afraid of, be, feel, look, extremely, rather, very, for, of, nothing to be afraid of | shitting bricks with fear, shitting bricks about something, shitting bricks over a test |
| Antonyms | brave, confident | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'afraid of' with 'scared of' - they can be similar, but use 'afraid' for more serious fears., Using 'afraid' with a direct object, e.g., saying 'I am afraid the dog' instead of 'I am afraid of the dog.', Mixing up between 'afraid' and 'afraid to' - remember 'afraid to' is followed by a verb. | Confused with the literal meaning of bricks., Used in formal settings where it's inappropriate., Not used correctly in similar phrases like 'he's cracking up'. |
| Usage notes | Used when you talk about fear of specific things or situations. It's appropriate in most contexts, but can be too emotional for formal situations. | Used informally to express extreme anxiety. Not suitable for formal contexts or written communication. |
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Frequently asked questions: Afraid vs He's shitting bricks
What's the difference between Afraid and He's shitting bricks?
Afraid: feeling fear or worry about something He's shitting bricks: He's very worried or scared.
Which is more formal: Afraid and He's shitting bricks?
Afraid is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Afraid and He's shitting bricks?
Afraid is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Afraid: She is afraid of the dark. He's shitting bricks: When he realized the exam was today, he started shitting bricks.
Can I use Afraid and He's shitting bricks interchangeably?
Not always. Afraid and He's shitting bricks are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.