paniquer

Senses

1. 1.

   to panic

   to lose composure or act irrationally out of fear

2. 2.

   to make someone panic

   to frighten or alarm someone into irrational behavior (transitive use, less common)

Examples

• "Il a paniqué quand il a vu le prix du billet d'avion."

  He panicked when he saw the price of the plane ticket.

• "Ne panique pas ! Il y a une solution."

  Don't panic! There is a solution.

• "Elle panique facilement avant les examens."

  She easily panics before exams.

Usage

A common, informal verb used in everyday speech. Often appears in the imperative form (panique pas). The intransitive use (se paniquer / devenir paniqué) is more natural than the transitive form. Slightly colloquial register.