Hair-raising means so frightening or thrilling that it makes the hairs on your body stand up. When you're truly scared or excited, tiny muscles at the base of each hair can contract, making your arm hairs stand on end. A hair-raising roller coaster drops you straight down from dizzying heights. A hair-raising adventure story keeps you on the edge of your seat, heart pounding.

The phrase captures that physical sensation of fear or extreme excitement. A hair-raising close call while riding your bike might involve nearly colliding with another cyclist. A hair-raising movie scene makes you grip the armrest. Mountain climbers describe hair-raising moments when they're clinging to a cliff face in high winds.

You can use it for anything that produces that spine-tingling feeling of danger or intense excitement, whether it's a scary story around a campfire, a narrow escape, or an incredibly risky stunt. When something is truly hair-raising, your body reacts instinctively to the perceived danger, even if you're actually safe.