In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the option which best explains the meaning of the idiom or phrase “make one's flesh creep”.

Introduction / Context:
This idiom question tests your understanding of an expression related to fear and strong emotion. The phrase “make one's flesh creep” comes from the physical sensation people sometimes feel when they are extremely frightened or disgusted, such as goosebumps or shivers on the skin. Recognising such idioms helps you interpret emotional reactions in English literature and everyday speech.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Idiom: make one's flesh creep.
• Options: to confuse someone, to flatter someone, to abuse someone, to frighten someone.
• We must select the option that best captures the meaning of the idiom.
• We assume the typical usage: “That horror story made my flesh creep.”

Concept / Approach:
The expression refers to the physical sensation of fear, horror or extreme disgust, where a person's skin seems to crawl or shiver. It is closely related to getting goosebumps. Therefore, the core meaning is to frighten or horrify someone. The other options describe very different actions: confusing, flattering or abusing someone do not automatically produce this specific physical reaction described by the idiom.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Recall the literal image: flesh creeping suggests skin reacting sharply to fear or horror.Ask which option naturally causes that feeling: frightening events or stories usually do.Option “To confuse someone” relates to mental puzzlement, not physical fear.Option “To flatter someone” is about giving praise, which is pleasant, not frightening.Option “To abuse someone” is about mistreatment or insult, which is serious but does not match the specific idiom here.Option “To frighten someone” directly matches the idea of causing fear strong enough to make the flesh creep.

Verification / Alternative check:
Use the idiom in a sentence: “The eerie silence in the abandoned house made my flesh creep.” Replacing the idiom with “frightened me” gives “The eerie silence in the abandoned house frightened me,” which preserves the intended meaning. Substituting “confused me” or “flattered me” clearly changes the sense and does not fit the context of horror or fear.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“To confuse someone” refers to mental uncertainty, not to fear or physical reaction. “To flatter someone” means to praise excessively or insincerely. “To abuse someone” focuses on harm or insult. None of these specifically evokes the image of skin crawling or goosebumps from terror. Only “To frighten someone” correctly represents what it means when something “makes your flesh creep”.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may associate creep only with moving slowly, but in this idiom, the picture is different: it is about your own flesh seeming to move or react because of fear. Whenever you see this phrase in stories or essays, think of strong fear or horror that produces a physical shiver. That will guide you to the correct interpretation in exams: to frighten someone.

Final Answer:
The idiom “make one's flesh creep” means to frighten someone.