frighten so or an animal to death meaning

[American slang]
1. Lit. to frighten a living creature badly enough to cause death.
  The roar of the plane engine seems to have frightened the little dog to death.
2. Fig. to frighten someone severely.
  The dentist always frightens me to death.
  She scared me to death when she screamed.

• frighten so or an animal in:    [American slang]Go ...
• frighten so or an animal into sth:    [American slang]1. ...
• frighten so or an animal into doing sth:    [American slang]to ...