frightening words to scare people (idiom); alarmist talk

to stand tall

to shrug one's shoulders

to shake (a part of one's body)

erect

to urge someone to listen

go through the clouds; to describe a very tall mountain or a building

to startle sb with scary tale

to clench one's teeth or show weird gesture, which implies speaking improperly or with exaggerating manner.

tall and erect, reaching through the clouds (idiom); used to describe tall mountain or skyscraper

to sensationalize (idiom); deliberate exaggeration to scare people