足(あし)がすくむ

あしがすくむ

expression

to be frozen with fear; to have one's legs go weak

1. to be frozen with fear; to have one's legs go weak

To become unable to move one's legs due to fear, anxiety, or shock. Describes the physical sensation of legs becoming stiff or weak from fright.

高(たか)いところで足(あし)がすくむ。

My legs freeze up at high places.

崖(がけ)の上(うえ)に立(た)つと足(あし)がすくんだ。

My legs went weak when I stood at the top of the cliff.

暗(くら)い路地(ろじ)で物音(ものおと)がして、足(あし)がすくんで動(うご)けなくなった。

I heard a noise in the dark alley and my legs froze, unable to move.

すくむ means to cower, stiffen, or become paralyzed with fear. This expression vividly describes the physical sensation of legs becoming stiff or weak from fright.

Common triggers

高(たか)いところ: high places
暗(くら)い場所(ばしょ): dark places
突然(とつぜん)の恐怖(きょうふ): sudden fright
危険(きけん)な状況(じょうきょう): dangerous situations

Related words

立(た)ちすくむ: to stand frozen in place (unable to move at all)
身(み)がすくむ: to freeze up (whole body, not just legs)
腰(こし)が抜(ぬ)ける: to go weak in the knees (stronger — completely unable to stand)
足(あし)が震(ふる)える: legs tremble (shaking rather than freezing)

Common patterns

The subject is 足(あし) (legs), not the person. The person experiencing fear is marked with の or は: 私(わたし)は足(あし)がすくんだ.

Related Words

Related: 立(た)ちすくむ (to stand frozen in place)

general

Added 2026.3.23 9:22 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31

18500/18703_ashigasukumu