50 idioms that describe feelings of nervousness. The guide divides these expressions into six clear categories—funny, common, thought-related, anxiety-related, panic-driven, and frustration-related—each accompanied by a definition and a practical example. The content reflects extensive experience in language usage and follows a logical structure to help readers and search engines quickly understand its full scope and value.
List of Idioms for Nervous
- My stomach is doing the cha-cha
- Butterflies are having a party in my belly
- My nerves are in a conga line
- I feel like a cat on a hot tin roof
- My heart is playing leapfrog
- I’m shaking like a maraca
- I got ants in my pants
- My mind is doing somersaults
- I’m a jitterbug on the loose
- My hands are tapping like a drumline
- Butterflies in my stomach
- On pins and needles
- A bundle of nerves
- Nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs
- My heart is in my throat
- Shaking like a leaf
- On edge
- Sweating bullets
- Walking on eggshells
- Biting my nails
- My mind is racing
- Thoughts running amok
- Caught in a spiral of worry
- Chasing my tail with thoughts
- A storm of doubts in my head
- Mind in a muddle
- Worrying like a broken record
- Tangled up in my thoughts
- Lost in a labyrinth of worry
- Stuck on overdrive
- Heart skipping a beat
- Churning stomach
- Jitters in my bones
- Nerves on fire
- A swarm of worries
- My nerves are frazzled
- Anxiety in every fiber
- Paralyzed by apprehension
- A tight knot in my chest
- Drowning in dread
- Freaking out
- In a tizzy
- Losing my head
- Running around like a headless chicken
- Going into a tailspin
- At my wit’s end
- Wound up like a clock
- On tenterhooks
- Tight as a drum
- Strung out and fuming
Funny Idioms for Nervous
My stomach is doing the cha-cha
Meaning: My stomach moves unexpectedly when I feel nervous.
Example: Before the presentation, my stomach is doing the cha-cha.
Butterflies are having a party in my belly
Meaning: I experience excitement mixed with nervousness.
Example: When I met the interview panel, butterflies were having a party in my belly.
My nerves are in a conga line
Meaning: My nerves move in a rhythmic, restless way under anxiety.
Example: During the exam, my nerves are in a conga line.
I feel like a cat on a hot tin roof
Meaning: I feel restless and uneasy from nervousness.
Example: Waiting for the test results, I feel like a cat on a hot tin roof.
My heart is playing leapfrog
Meaning: My heart beats irregularly because of nervous tension.
Example: Before the big game, my heart is playing leapfrog.
I’m shaking like a maraca
Meaning: I tremble noticeably when anxiety hits.
Example: At the speech podium, I’m shaking like a maraca.
I got ants in my pants
Meaning: I feel restless and cannot sit still.
Example: Before the interview, I got ants in my pants.
My mind is doing somersaults
Meaning: My thoughts flip rapidly when I feel anxious.
Example: Waiting for the verdict, my mind is doing somersaults.
I’m a jitterbug on the loose
Meaning: I exhibit rapid, nervous movements.
Example: During the concert, I am a jitterbug on the loose.
My hands are tapping like a drumline
Meaning: My hands move rapidly as nervous energy takes hold.
Example: At the job interview, my hands are tapping like a drumline.
Best Idioms for Nervous
Butterflies in my stomach
Meaning: I feel a fluttering sensation in my stomach from nervousness.
Example: Before the flight, I have butterflies in my stomach.
On pins and needles
Meaning: I remain tense and alert while waiting.
Example: Waiting for the exam results, I remain on pins and needles.
A bundle of nerves
Meaning: I feel extremely anxious and jittery.
Example: Before the interview, I become a bundle of nerves.
Nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs
Meaning: I feel extremely jittery and on edge.
Example: During the live show, I am nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
My heart is in my throat
Meaning: I experience intense nervousness that affects my breathing.
Example: Before the crucial moment, my heart is in my throat.
Shaking like a leaf
Meaning: I tremble noticeably due to anxiety.
Example: Before stepping on stage, I am shaking like a leaf.
On edge
Meaning: I remain highly anxious and tense.
Example: Before the announcement, I feel on edge.
Sweating bullets
Meaning: I perspire heavily because of nervous tension.
Example: During the presentation, I am sweating bullets.
Walking on eggshells
Meaning: I act with extra caution to avoid upsetting a situation.
Example: Before the meeting, I am walking on eggshells.
Biting my nails
Meaning: I engage in a nervous habit as I feel anxious.
Example: Waiting for feedback, I keep biting my nails.
Idioms for Nervous Thoughts
My mind is racing
Meaning: I experience rapid, uncontrolled thoughts due to anxiety.
Example: Before the interview, my mind is racing.
Thoughts running amok
Meaning: My ideas scatter unpredictably when I am nervous.
Example: During uncertainty, my thoughts are running amok.
Caught in a spiral of worry
Meaning: I become trapped in a cycle of anxious thoughts.
Example: Facing a deadline, I become caught in a spiral of worry.
Chasing my tail with thoughts
Meaning: I pursue endless anxious ideas with no clear outcome.
Example: Before the exam, I find myself chasing my tail with thoughts.
A storm of doubts in my head
Meaning: My mind fills with conflicting worries and uncertainties.
Example: When decisions loom, a storm of doubts fills my head.
Mind in a muddle
Meaning: My thoughts become confused under nervous pressure.
Example: Under pressure, my mind turns into a muddle.
Worrying like a broken record
Meaning: I repeat the same anxious thoughts continuously.
Example: During stress, I end up worrying like a broken record.
Tangled up in my thoughts
Meaning: My mind becomes intertwined with anxious ideas.
Example: In stressful times, I am tangled up in my thoughts.
Lost in a labyrinth of worry
Meaning: I struggle to find a clear path amid persistent doubts.
Example: When facing uncertainty, I feel lost in a labyrinth of worry.
Stuck on overdrive
Meaning: My mind runs continuously at a high speed due to anxiety.
Example: During a crisis, my mind remains stuck on overdrive.
Idioms for Nervous Anxiety
Heart skipping a beat
Meaning: I experience sudden, irregular heartbeats from anxiety.
Example: Before the big event, my heart skips a beat.
Churning stomach
Meaning: I feel a swirling sensation in my stomach because of anxiety.
Example: Facing the challenge, my stomach churns with worry.
Jitters in my bones
Meaning: I feel a pervasive nervous energy throughout my body.
Example: On exam day, I sense jitters in my bones.
Nerves on fire
Meaning: I experience intense nervous excitement that feels overwhelming.
Example: Before the performance, my nerves are on fire.
A swarm of worries
Meaning: I feel overwhelmed by many anxious thoughts at once.
Example: During uncertainty, a swarm of worries surrounds me.
My nerves are frazzled
Meaning: I feel extremely tense and overtaxed by anxiety.
Example: Before the interview, my nerves become frazzled.
Anxiety in every fiber
Meaning: I experience anxiety throughout my entire body.
Example: Facing the outcome, I feel anxiety in every fiber.
Paralyzed by apprehension
Meaning: I become immobilized when fear takes over.
Example: At the thought of failure, I feel paralyzed by apprehension.
A tight knot in my chest
Meaning: I feel a physical constriction from nervous anxiety.
Example: Before a major decision, I feel a tight knot in my chest.
Drowning in dread
Meaning: I feel overwhelmed by deep and persistent fear.
Example: Facing uncertainty, I am drowning in dread.
Idioms for Nervous and Panicking
Freaking out
Meaning: I lose control when panic overtakes me.
Example: During the crisis, I start freaking out.
In a tizzy
Meaning: I become agitated and disorganized from panic.
Example: When plans collapse, I find myself in a tizzy.
Losing my head
Meaning: I become disoriented and frantic in a panic.
Example: At the sudden news, I feel like I’m losing my head.
Running around like a headless chicken
Meaning: I act in a frantic and uncoordinated manner.
Example: During the emergency, I start running around like a headless chicken.
Going into a tailspin
Meaning: I lose control as panic overwhelms my thoughts.
Example: When the situation escalates, I am going into a tailspin.
Idioms for Nervous and Frustration
At my wit’s end
Meaning: I reach the limit of my patience and nerve.
Example: After hours of delays, I am at my wit’s end.
Wound up like a clock
Meaning: I feel tightly tense and frustrated.
Example: Facing constant setbacks, I feel wound up like a clock.
On tenterhooks
Meaning: I remain anxious and uneasy while waiting.
Example: Before the verdict, I am on tenterhooks.
Tight as a drum
Meaning: I experience extreme tension and frustration.
Example: During the long meeting, I feel tight as a drum.
Strung out and fuming
Meaning: I become highly tense and express frustration.
Example: After repeated errors, I end up strung out and fuming.