Feeling nervous is something everyone experiences, whether it’s before a big test, speaking in front of others, or trying something new. To talk about this feeling, people often use idioms expressions that don’t mean exactly what the words say but make communication more interesting. These idioms help us express nervousness in a creative way. Instead of just saying “I feel nervous,” we can say “I’m shaking in my boots” or “I’ve got butterflies in my stomach.”
In this article, we’ll explore different idioms that describe being nervous. Understanding these idioms can help you better express how you feel and also understand when others use them. Let’s dive into some common idioms about nervousness and see how they are used in everyday conversation.
Idioms about Being Nervous
1. Butterflies in my stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous or anxious.
Example: Before my first dance recital, I had butterflies in my stomach. / I always get butterflies in my stomach before a big test.
Put Differently: I feel a little bit scared and excited at the same time. / It’s like having a nervous feeling inside me.
2. Break out in a cold sweat
Meaning: To feel very nervous or scared, often leading to sweating.
Example: I broke out in a cold sweat when I saw my name on the spelling bee list. / He broke out in a cold sweat before his big performance.
Put Differently: I started sweating because I was so nervous. // I got so scared that I started sweating a lot.
3. On edge
Meaning: Feeling nervous or anxious.
Example: I was on edge before my presentation. / He’s been on edge since the football game started.
Put Differently: I feel like I’m about to jump from being nervous. / He’s acting a little anxious and restless.
4. Get cold feet
Meaning: To become too nervous to do something you were planning to do.
Example: She got cold feet before going on stage to sing. / I almost got cold feet when it was my turn to speak in front of the class.
Put Differently: I got scared and didn’t want to do it. / I almost changed my mind because I was nervous.
5. Shake like a leaf
Meaning: To shake because you are very nervous or scared.
Example: I shook like a leaf before my first roller coaster ride. / He was shaking like a leaf during his big speech.
Put Differently: My body was shaking because I was nervous. / I couldn’t stop shaking because I was so scared.
6. Sweat bullets
Meaning: To sweat a lot because of nervousness or fear.
Example: I was sweating bullets while waiting for my turn to answer the question. / He sweated bullets during his soccer tryout.
Put Differently: I was sweating a lot because I was nervous. / I felt like I couldn’t stop sweating because I was so scared.
7. Nervous wreck
Meaning: Feeling extremely nervous or upset.
Example: She was a nervous wreck before her first day of school. / I was a nervous wreck before the big test.
Put Differently: I felt really nervous and could barely think straight. / I was so anxious that I couldn’t calm down.
8. Have a lump in my throat
Meaning: To feel so nervous or emotional that it’s hard to talk.
Example: I had a lump in my throat when I had to say goodbye to my best friend. / She had a lump in her throat when she gave her speech.
Put Differently: I felt like I couldn’t speak because I was so nervous. / I felt like something was stuck in my throat because I was so scared.
9. My heart is racing
Meaning: Feeling very nervous, excited, or scared, causing your heart to beat faster.
Example: My heart was racing as I ran the final lap in the race. / His heart was racing before he asked her to be his partner.
Put Differently: My heart was beating really fast because I was nervous. / I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest from excitement.
10. Have the jitters
Meaning: To feel nervous or excited, especially before an important event.
Example: I always get the jitters before my piano recital. / She had the jitters on her first day of camp.
Put Differently: I feel nervous and a little bit shaky. / I get a little excited and scared at the same time.
11. Get the shakes
Meaning: To feel shaky or unsteady due to nervousness.
Example: I got the shakes when I had to speak in front of the class. / He got the shakes when he was about to perform.
Put Differently: My hands started to shake because I was so nervous. / I felt wobbly because I was scared.
12. Heart in my throat
Meaning: To feel nervous or scared, often with a racing heartbeat.
Example: When the teacher called on me, my heart was in my throat. / His heart was in his throat when he heard his name called for the award.
Put Differently: I felt like my heart was stuck in my throat because I was so scared. / I was nervous, and it felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest.
13. Tense up
Meaning: To become nervous or anxious, causing your muscles to tighten.
Example: I always tense up before a big test. / She tensed up when the teacher asked her a tough question.
Put Differently: My body felt tight because I was nervous. / I couldn’t relax because I was feeling anxious.
14. Have butterflies in my stomach
Meaning: To feel nervous, especially before something important.
Example: I had butterflies in my stomach before my first soccer game. / He got butterflies in his stomach when he saw the big crowd.
Put Differently: I felt a fluttering feeling inside because I was nervous. / I felt both excited and nervous at the same time.
15. Feel like I’m walking on eggshells
Meaning: To feel nervous or worried about saying or doing something wrong.
Example: I felt like I was walking on eggshells when I had to give my speech./ She felt like she was walking on eggshells during the meeting.
Put Differently: I was nervous about making a mistake. / I was careful not to mess up because I was so anxious.
16. Biting my nails
Meaning: To feel nervous or anxious, often shown by biting your nails.
Example: I was biting my nails before the math test. / She couldn’t stop biting her nails during the scary movie.
Put Differently: I was so nervous I kept biting my nails. / I felt uneasy, and it showed by me biting my nails.
17. Jump out of my skin
Meaning: To be extremely surprised or nervous.
Example: I almost jumped out of my skin when the teacher called on me. / He jumped out of his skin when he saw the scary costume.
Put Differently: I was so nervous I almost leaped. / It shocked me so much that I almost jumped.
18. Have a panic attack
Meaning: To experience a sudden, intense feeling of anxiety or fear.
Example: I had a panic attack before my first school play. / She had a panic attack when she realized she lost her homework.
Put Differently: I got so scared that I couldn’t breathe properly. / I felt overwhelmed with fear all of a sudden.
19. Feel like I’m going to pass out
Meaning: To feel extremely nervous or scared to the point of dizziness.
Example: I felt like I was going to pass out before my dance performance. / He felt like he was going to pass out when he saw the large crowd.
Put Differently: I felt dizzy and thought I might faint because I was so nervous./ I felt weak and scared, like I couldn’t stand up.
20. Twisted in knots
Meaning: Feeling very nervous or anxious, especially in your stomach.
Example: I was twisted in knots before my big test. / She felt twisted in knots when she was about to sing in front of the class.
Put Differently: My stomach felt tight and twisted because I was so nervous. / I felt
21. My palms are sweating
Meaning: To sweat from nervousness, especially in the hands.
Example: My palms were sweating before my big presentation. / He was shaking and his palms were sweating before the game.
Put Differently: My hands were all wet from being nervous. / I felt like I couldn’t stop sweating in my hands because I was scared.
22. Feeling jittery
Meaning: To feel nervous and restless, often with small shakes.
Example: I was feeling jittery before the job interview. / She was feeling jittery before the big race.
Put Differently: I was feeling a little shaky and anxious. /I couldn’t sit still because I was so nervous.
23. My mouth is dry
Meaning: To feel nervous or anxious, often affecting your ability to speak clearly.
Example: My mouth was dry when I had to speak in front of the class./ She felt like her mouth was dry before giving her speech.
Put Differently: I couldn’t speak well because my mouth was too dry from being nervous. / I felt like I couldn’t swallow because I was so scared.
24. Heart pounding in my chest
Meaning: Feeling nervous with a fast and heavy heartbeat.
Example: My heart was pounding in my chest as I walked onto the stage. / His heart was pounding in his chest before the test.
Put Differently: I could feel my heart beating fast because I was so nervous. / I felt my heart thumping hard because I was anxious.
25. Feeling like I’m about to explode
Meaning: Feeling so nervous or full of emotion that you can’t control it.
Example: I felt like I was about to explode when I had to perform in front of everyone. / She felt like she was about to explode before the race started.
Put Differently: I was so nervous I thought I couldn’t handle it anymore. / I felt like all my nerves were building up inside me.
26. All tied up in knots
Meaning: To feel nervous and unable to relax, especially in your stomach.
Example: I was all tied up in knots before the science presentation. / His stomach was tied up in knots before his speech.
Put Differently: I felt all tight and twisted from being nervous. / My stomach felt uncomfortable because I was so anxious.
27. Churning stomach
Meaning: Feeling anxious, especially in your stomach.
Example: My stomach was churning when I had to speak in front of the class. / She felt her stomach churning before the big test.
Put Differently: I felt nervous inside, like something was turning in my stomach. / I felt sick and uneasy because I was so anxious.
28. Sweating bullets
Meaning: Sweating a lot because of nervousness.
Example: I was sweating bullets during my first basketball game. / He was sweating bullets while giving his presentation.
Put Differently: I couldn’t stop sweating because I was nervous. / I felt so anxious that I was dripping with sweat.
29. Nerves of steel
Meaning: Being very calm and brave in a stressful situation.
Example: She showed nerves of steel during the final exam. / He had nerves of steel when he had to go on stage.
Put Differently: He was so calm, even though everyone else was nervous. / She stayed cool and collected, even though it was a tough situation.
30. Feels like I’m going to faint
Meaning: To feel so nervous or scared that you might pass out.
Example: I felt like I was going to faint before my big math test. / She felt like she might faint when she had to speak in front of everyone.
Put Differently: I felt dizzy and weak because I was so nervous. / I thought I might collapse from being so scared.
31. Feel like a deer in headlights
Meaning: Feeling scared and unable to react, like a deer caught in the light.
Example: I felt like a deer in headlights when the teacher asked me a question I didn’t know. / He stood there like a deer in headlights during his speech.
Put Differently: I froze and couldn’t think because I was so nervous. / I was so scared I couldn’t move or speak.
32. Wring my hands
Meaning: To feel nervous, often shown by twisting or rubbing your hands together.
Example: I kept wringing my hands before my dance performance. / She was wringing her hands before the game started.
Put Differently: I was so nervous I couldn’t stop moving my hands. / I felt uneasy and kept twisting my hands together.
33. Feel like I’m about to faint
Meaning: To feel weak and as if you might pass out from nervousness.
Example: I felt like I was about to faint when I had to speak in front of the class. / She felt like she was going to faint when she got on stage.
Put Differently: I felt dizzy and weak because I was so scared. / I thought I might collapse because I was so nervous.
34. In a panic
Meaning: Feeling very nervous and upset.
Example: I was in a panic before my math exam. / She was in a panic when she couldn’t find her homework.
Put Differently: I was really upset and couldn’t calm down. / I was so nervous that I couldn’t think straight.
35. Have a nervous breakdown
Meaning: To feel so nervous or stressed that it becomes hard to handle emotions.
Example: I almost had a nervous breakdown before my big performance. / She had a nervous breakdown when her speech went wrong.
Put Differently: I felt like I couldn’t control my emotions because I was so nervous. / I got so stressed that I couldn’t keep calm.
36. Like a rabbit caught in the headlights
Meaning: Feeling scared and frozen, unable to react.
Example: I was like a rabbit caught in the headlights when the teacher asked me to answer. / He stood still like a rabbit caught in the headlights when his name was called.
Put Differently: I was too nervous to move or speak. / I was too scared to do anything when I was put on the spot.
37. Feel like I’m walking in circles
Meaning: To feel confused or lost because of nervousness.
Example: I felt like I was walking in circles before the big test. / She felt like she was walking in circles during the difficult game.
Put Differently: I couldn’t focus and kept going back and forth because I was so nervous. / I felt lost and confused because I was scared.
38. Tongue Tied
Meaning: To feel so nervous that you can’t speak properly.
Example: I was tongue tied when it was my turn to speak in front of the class. / She was tongue tied before her big performance.
Put Differently: I couldn’t say anything because I was too nervous. / My words got stuck because I was so anxious.
39. Like a scaredy cat
Meaning: To be very scared or nervous about something.
Example: I felt like a scaredy cat when I had to speak in front of the whole school. He acted like a scaredy cat before going on the ride.
Put Differently: I was acting very nervous and scared. / I was so afraid I couldn’t stop shaking.
40. Walking on thin ice
Meaning: Feeling like you are in a very risky or uncertain situation, which makes you nervous.
Example: I felt like I was walking on thin ice when I had to answer the tricky question. / She felt like she was walking on thin ice when she tried to fix the broken project.
Put Differently: I felt like I was in a dangerous situation and had to be careful. / I was so nervous because I felt like everything could go wrong.
“Rewrite the Sentence” Activity:Idioms about Being Nervous
Below are 10 simple sentences about feelings or situations related to being nervous. These sentences do not use any idioms. Your task is to rewrite each sentence using one of the idioms about being nervous that you have learned. Make sure your new sentence makes sense and sounds natural.
Sentences to Rewrite
- I feel nervous when I have to speak in front of my class.
- Before my first soccer game, I couldn’t stop moving my hands.
- I felt really scared before going to my first dance recital.
- I started to get very anxious when I saw the long line at the amusement park.
- I was too scared to answer the teacher’s question in class.
- My heart was racing when I had to give my presentation.
- I got so nervous that I couldn’t even sit still.
- I felt a little dizzy when I had to sing in front of everyone.
- I was nervous about the big test, and I couldn’t focus.
- I was shaking before I had to go on the stage for the talent show.
Answer Key
- I had butterflies in my stomach when I had to speak in front of my class.
- Before my first soccer game, I couldn’t stop wringing my hands.
- I felt like a deer in headlights before going to my first dance recital.
- I started to get cold feet when I saw the long line at the amusement park.
- I was tonguetied when I couldn’t answer the teacher’s question in class.
- My heart was pounding in my chest when I had to give my presentation.
- I got so nervous that I couldn’t even sit still, I was feeling jittery.
- I felt like I was about to faint when I had to sing in front of everyone.
- I was walking on thin ice about the big test, and I couldn’t focus.
- I was shaking like a leaf before I had to go on the stage for the talent show.
Conclusion
Nervousness is something we all feel at different times, whether it’s before an important event, a big test, or speaking in front of others. Using idioms to talk about being nervous makes our language more interesting and helps us express these feelings in fun and creative ways.
By learning these idioms, you can understand others better when they talk about being nervous and also use these expressions in your own speaking and writing. The more you practice, the easier it will be to use them naturally. Remember, everyone gets nervous sometimes, and using these idioms can help make those nervous moments a little less scary and a little more fun.
