From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstrike terror/fear into somebody’s heartstrike terror/fear into somebody’s heartFRIGHTENEDto make someone feel very frightened The word ‘cancer’ still strikes terror into many hearts. → strike
Examples from the Corpus
strike terror/fear into somebody’s heart• The Slav opposition collapsed almost immediately, as if the very name of Charles had struck terror into their hearts.• Every crisis would strike terror into the hearts of people everywhere.• Believe me, all those cannon, mortars and volley guns should strike fear into the heart of the enemy.• Nothing here to strike fear into the hearts of the people.• The very physical description of the Huns proved sufficient in and of itself to strike terror into the hearts of their enemies.