Literal translation
it made my hair stand up on my head
Meaning
it made my hair stand on end
Explanation
This expression, very close to its French equivalent, describes an intense fright, a fear so strong that it produces a visible physical effect on the body. The literal image relies on a real bodily reflex, horripilation, the involuntary raising of body and head hair under the effect of a strong emotion, a phenomenon also observed in many animals facing danger, where the fur stands up to appear more imposing. Applied to humans, the expression retains only the visible effect without reference to its original defensive function, making it the instantly recognisable symptom of sudden terror. The turn of phrase works equally well for a real fear, caused by a concrete danger, and for a moral horror, caused by a frightening account, terrible news, or an unbearable sight. The register is common, with no strong dialectal marking, used in ordinary conversation to forcefully express an emotion that has left a lasting mark on the speaker, often within a retrospective account of an event that shook them.