"for fear of" vs "in fear of"

Question

"for fear of" vs "in fear of"

Both 'for fear of' and 'in fear of' are correct phrases, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'For fear of' is used to express the reason behind an action taken to avoid something negative, while 'in fear of' is used to describe the state of being afraid or anxious about something.

Last Updated: March 23, 2024

This phrase is used to indicate the reason why someone does something to prevent a negative outcome or consequence.

Examples:

She avoided going out at night for fear of being followed.
He double-checked the locks for fear of burglars.
They stayed silent for fear of being punished.
She didn't speak up for fear of offending someone.
He avoided spicy food for fear of getting heartburn.

Alternatives:

out of fear of
because of fear of
due to fear of
to avoid
to prevent

This phrase is used to describe the feeling of fear or anxiety that someone experiences in a particular situation.

Examples:

She lived in fear of her abusive partner.
The villagers were in fear of the approaching storm.
He hesitated to speak up in fear of being ridiculed.
The child cowered in fear of the loud noise.
They walked quietly in fear of waking the baby.

Alternatives:

afraid of
anxious about
scared of
terrified of
worried about

Answer 1

for fear of

The phrase 'for fear of' is correct and commonly used in English to express the reason behind an action taken to avoid something negative.

Answer 2

in fear of

The phrase 'in fear of' is also correct and used to describe the state of being afraid or anxious about something.

"for fear of" vs "in fear of"

for fear of

in fear of

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