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 EXPRESSIONS:

  • 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)

GRAMMAR:
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.

general
Added 2026.3.23 9:22 · Revised 2026.3.26 17:50
18500/18703_ashigasukumu