Everyone feels nervous sometimes. You might get butterflies before a test or shaky hands when speaking in front of the class. People use special phrases called idioms to describe these feelings. Idioms are groups of words that mean something different than what they say. For example, “butterflies in your stomach” doesn’t mean real butterflies it means you feel nervous.
This article will teach you common idioms about being nervous. You will learn what they mean and how to use them. Later, you can practice them to get better. Knowing these phrases helps you understand how people talk about their feelings. Let’s get started.
Idioms about Being Nervous
1. Butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous or excited.
To Provide an Example: “I had butterflies in my stomach before my school play.” / “She gets butterflies before a big soccer game.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean excitement, like before a fun trip.
2. Shaking like a leaf
Meaning: Trembling because of fear or nerves.
To Provide an Example: “He was shaking like a leaf during the thunderstorm.” / “My hands shook like a leaf when I had to read aloud.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean being very cold.
3. Sweating bullets
Meaning: Extremely nervous or scared.
To Provide an Example: “I was sweating bullets before my math test.” / “He sweats bullets when the teacher calls on him.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean working very hard.
4. On edge
Meaning: Feeling tense or anxious.
To Provide an Example: “She was on edge before her dentist appointment.” / “Waiting for the bus in the dark made him feel on edge.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean being easily annoyed.
5. Jumpy
Meaning: Easily startled because of nerves.
To Provide an Example: “The loud noise made her jumpy.” / “He’s been jumpy ever since he lost his homework.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also describe someone who moves a lot.
6. Bundle of nerves
Meaning: Very nervous or anxious.
To Provide an Example: “She was a bundle of nerves before her piano recital.” / “He turned into a bundle of nerves on the first day of school.”
Alternative Meaning: wrought up.
7. Heart in your mouth
Meaning: Feeling extremely scared or nervous.
To Provide an Example: “My heart was in my mouth when the roller coaster dropped.” / “She felt her heart in her mouth during the scary movie.”
Alternative Meaning: My heart was in my throat.
8. Cold feet
Meaning: Getting too nervous to do something.
To Provide an Example: “He got cold feet and didn’t go on stage.” / “She had cold feet about riding the big slide.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean changing your mind last minute.
9. Nervous wreck
Meaning: So nervous you can’t think clearly.
To Provide an Example: “Mom was a nervous wreck before her job interview.” / “I was a nervous wreck before the spelling bee.”
Alternative Meaning: Overanxious.
10. Twisting someone’s arm
Meaning: Pressuring someone until they agree.
To Provide an Example: “My sister twisted my arm to share my candy.” / “The coach twisted his arm to join the team.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean convincing someone playfully.
11. Bite your nails
Meaning: A habit when nervous or worried.
To Provide an Example: “She bites her nails before every test.” / “He was biting his nails while waiting for the doctor.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean impatience.
12. Like a cat on a hot tin roof
Meaning: Unable to sit still because of nerves.
To Provide an Example: “He paced like a cat on a hot tin roof before his speech.” / “The puppy was like a cat on a hot tin roof during the storm.”
Alternative Meaning: Can describe extreme restlessness.
13. Have a frog in your throat
Meaning: Voice shakes or feels tight because of nerves.
To Provide an Example: “I had a frog in my throat when I sang solo.” / “She coughed, saying, ‘I’ve got a frog in my throat,’ before her talk.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean a sore throat.
14. Scared stiff
Meaning: So nervous you can’t move.
To Provide an Example: “The haunted house left him scared stiff.” / “She was scared stiff when she saw the spider.”
Alternative Meaning: Unnerved.
15. Mind goes blank
Meaning: Forgetting everything because of nerves.
To Provide an Example: “My mind went blank when the teacher called on me.” / “His mind went blank during the quiz.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean extreme tiredness.
16. Jittery
Meaning: Shaky or uneasy from nervousness.
To Provide an Example: “Too much soda makes me jittery.” / “She felt jittery before her first swim meet.”
Alternative Meaning: Can describe caffeine effects.
17. Walking on eggshells
Meaning: Being very careful to avoid upsetting someone.
To Provide an Example: “He was walking on eggshells after breaking Mom’s vase.” / “We walked on eggshells around the grumpy teacher.”
Alternative Meaning: Can mean tense situations.
18. Freak out
Meaning: To panic or get very nervous.
To Provide an Example: “She freaked out when she lost her backpack.” / “Don’t freak out it’s just a practice fire drill.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean extreme excitement.
19. Pit in your stomach
Meaning: A heavy, nervous feeling.
To Provide an Example: “I had a pit in my stomach before the dentist.” / “He got a pit in his stomach when he saw his bad grade.”
Alternative Meaning: Can mean deep sadness.
20. Hair stands on end
Meaning: So scared or nervous your hair feels like it’s sticking up.
To Provide an Example: “The ghost story made my hair stand on end.” / “Her hair stood on end when she heard the loud bang.”
Alternative Meaning: Scandalize.
21. Weak in the knees
Meaning: Feeling so nervous your legs feel shaky
To Provide an Example: “When I stood up to speak, I went weak in the knees.” / “Seeing the big rollercoaster made him weak in the knees.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also happen when you’re very tired.
22. Tongue-tied
Meaning: So nervous you can’t speak properly
To Provide an Example: “I got tongue-tied when the principal asked me a question.” / “She became tongue-tied during her birthday speech.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also happen when you’re surprised.
23. Have ants in your pants
Meaning: Can’t sit still because you’re nervous
To Provide an Example: “He had ants in his pants before his big game.” / “The kids had ants in their pants on the first day of school.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean being very excited.
24. Nervous Nellie
Meaning: Someone who worries too much
To Provide an Example: “Don’t be such a Nervous Nellie – the test will be fine!” / “My dad’s a Nervous Nellie when we drive in snow.”
Alternative Meaning: Worrywart.
25. All worked up
Meaning: Very nervous or upset
To Provide an Example: “She got all worked up about her science project.” / “No need to get all worked up – it’s just a little rain.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean angry.
26. Chicken out
Meaning: Too nervous to do something
To Provide an Example: “I chickened out of going on the big slide.” / “He almost chicken out of the talent show.”
Alternative Meaning: Backed down.
27. Shake like jelly
Meaning: Trembling from nervousness
To Provide an Example: “My legs were shaking like jelly at the spelling bee.” / “He shook like jelly when he had to give his report.”
Alternative Meaning: Shaking like a leaf.
28. Butterfingers
Meaning: Dropping things because you’re nervous
To Provide An Example: “I got butterfingers and dropped my lunch tray.” / “The quarterback had butterfingers during the big game.”
Alternative Meaning: Can just mean being clumsy.
29. Can’t sit still
Meaning: Too nervous to relax
To Provide an Example: “I couldn’t sit still waiting for my turn.” / “The puppy can’t sit still during thunderstorms.”
Alternative Meaning: Can mean having lots of energy.
30. Stomach in knots
Meaning: Feeling very nervous inside
To Provide an Example: “My stomach was in knots before the recital.” / “He got stomach knots when he heard the news.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean feeling sick.
31. Like a deer in headlights
Meaning: Frozen with fear or surprise
To Provide an Example: “When the teacher called on me, I was like a deer in headlights.” / “The rabbit stood like a deer in headlights when it saw our dog.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean being very surprised
32. Hands are tied
Meaning: Feeling helpless in a nervous situation
To Provide an Example: “My hands were tied when I forgot my lines in the play.” / “Her hands were tied when the computer crashed during her presentation.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean not being allowed to help
33. On pins and needles
Meaning: Anxious while waiting for something
To Provide an Example: “We were on pins and needles waiting for the test results.” / “He sat on pins and needles for his turn at bat.”
Alternative Meaning: With bated breath meaning
34. Get cold sweats
Meaning: Nervous to the point of sweating
To Provide an Example: “I get cold sweats before going to the dentist.” / “She had cold sweats before her big soccer game.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean being sick
35. Heart skips a beat
Meaning: Momentary fear or surprise
To Provide an Example: “My heart skipped a beat when I almost dropped my lunch tray.” / “His heart skipped a beat when the fire alarm went off.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean being excited
36. Jump out of your skin
Meaning: Extremely startled
To Provide an Example: “The loud noise made me jump out of my skin!” / “She nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw the spider.”
Alternative Meaning: Be scared
37. Wound up
Meaning: Very tense or nervous
To Provide an Example: “He was all wound up before his piano recital.” / “Don’t get so wound up about the test – you’ll do fine!”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean very excited
38. Have the jitters
Meaning: Feeling nervous and shaky
To Provide an Example: “I always get the jitters before a big game.” / “She had the jitters on her first day at a new school.”
Alternative Meaning: Feel nervous
39. Can’t think straight
Meaning: Too nervous to focus
To Provide an Example: “I was so nervous I couldn’t think straight during the test.” / “He couldn’t think straight when the teacher surprised them with a quiz.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean being very tired
40. Scaredy-cat
Meaning: Someone who gets nervous easily
To Provide an Example: “Don’t be such a scaredy-cat – it’s just a little dog!” / “My brother’s a scaredy-cat about riding roller coasters.”
Alternative Meaning: Fraidy-cat
41. White as a ghost
Meaning: Looking very pale from fear
To Provide an Example: “She turned white as a ghost when she heard the loud crash.” / “He went white as a ghost when the teacher called his name.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean being sick
42. Paralyzed with fear
Meaning: So scared you can’t move
To Provide an Example: “I was paralyzed with fear during the scary movie.” / “The mouse was paralyzed with fear when it saw the cat.”
Alternative Meaning: Frozen with fear
43. Have a lump in your throat
Meaning: Feeling emotional and nervous
To Provide an Example: “I had a lump in my throat when I had to say goodbye.” / “She got a lump in her throat before her big performance.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean wanting to cry
44. Nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs
Meaning: Extremely nervous
To Provide an Example: “He was as nervous as a long-tailed cat before his speech.” / “I felt like a long-tailed cat when I had to meet the principal.”
Alternative Meaning: As jittery as a mouse in a room full of cats
45. Can’t catch your breath
Meaning: Breathing fast from nervousness
To Provide an Example: “I couldn’t catch my breath before the race started.” / “She couldn’t catch her breath when she got called to the stage.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean being out of shape
46. Feel the pressure
Meaning: Nervous about doing well
To Provide an Example: “I really felt the pressure during the spelling bee.” / “He feels the pressure when his team is counting on him.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean having responsibilities
47. Get the shakes
Meaning: Hands trembling from nerves
To Provide an Example: “I got the shakes before my piano recital.” / “She always gets the shakes when she has to speak in class.”
Alternative Meaning: Trembling
48. Stomach does flip-flops
Meaning: Feeling nervous in your stomach
To Provide an Example: “My stomach did flip-flops when the roller coaster dropped.” / “Her stomach did flip-flops before the big test.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean excitement
49. Mind races
Meaning: Thinking too fast from nervousness
To Provide an Example: “My mind was racing before the big game.” / “Her mind raced as she waited for her turn.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean having many ideas
50. Can’t swallow
Meaning: Throat feels tight from nerves
To Provide an Example: “I couldn’t swallow when I had to go on stage.” / “He couldn’t swallow his food before the big race.”
Alternative Meaning: Can also mean being sick
Trials for Success: Idioms About Being Nervous
- Before his big baseball game, Jake felt like he had __________.
- Sara was __________ when she saw the big dog running toward her.
- During the thunderstorm, the little boy was __________.
- Emma got __________ and forgot her lines in the school play.
- Before the math test, Liam was __________ and couldn’t stop moving.
- When the teacher called on him, Noah felt __________ and couldn’t speak.
- Waiting for the dentist, Mia had __________ and couldn’t relax.
- Before his piano recital, Ethan was a __________ and couldn’t think straight.
- When the roller coaster dropped, Ava felt her __________.
- After hearing a loud noise, the cat was __________ all night.
- Before his speech, Ryan went __________ and almost didn’t go on stage.
- During the fire drill, Lily was so nervous her __________.
- Before the spelling bee, Max had __________ and couldn’t eat breakfast.
- When the principal walked in, the class got __________ and stopped talking.
- After staying up late, Zoe was __________ and dropped her pencil twice.
Answer Key
- butterflies in his stomach
- shaking like a leaf
- on edge
- her mind went blank
- jittery
- tongue-tied
- stomach in knots
- nervous wreck
- heart in her mouth
- jumpy
- cold feet
- hands were shaking like a leaf
- a bundle of nerves
- quiet as mice
- butterfingers
Conclusion
Learning idioms about being nervous helps you understand how people talk about their feelings. Now you know phrases like “butterflies in your stomach” and “shaking like a leaf.” These words describe what happens when you feel scared or worried.
Try using these idioms when you talk or write. They make your stories more interesting. Next time you feel nervous, remember it’s normal, and there’s even an idiom for it!
