scare story

American  

[skair stawr-ee] / ˈskɛər ˌstɔr i /

noun

1. a story or report, especially in a news source, that uses sensationalism to make a situation seem more dangerous or worrying than it is in reality.

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Etymology

Origin of scare story

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

So this is just a scare story, isn’t it?

From The Guardian • Nov. 5, 2019

He had no patience for the medical scare story or the fad diet.

From MSNBC • Oct. 14, 2014

But Nicola Sturgeon said this was a "scare story" and it was "insulting people's intelligence".

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2014

“If you look at the way it is covered, the computer scare story of the week, you might get the sense that such a disaster is just around the corner.”

From New York Times • Jan. 16, 2011

To have worked so hard, and then to have another paper come out with a "scare" story about Mr. Potter's return, was discouraging.

From Larry Dexter's Great Search or, The Hunt for the Missing Millionaire by Garis, Howard Roger