Anxiety is something most of us feel at some point in our lives. It’s that jittery, nervous feeling that can make you uncomfortable. Sometimes, we use interesting phrases to describe it, like “butterflies in your stomach” or “shaking like a leaf.” In this article, we’ll explore idioms for anxiety.
These expressions might sound funny, but they capture that uneasy feeling perfectly. Let’s dive in and understand what these idioms really mean.
What is an idiom for anxiety?
Idioms are phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. When it comes to anxiety, we use idioms to describe how it feels.
Let’s break down some common idioms for anxiety and see how they express that uneasy sensation.
| Idiom | Meaning | In a Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Butterflies in your stomach | Feeling nervous or anxious before an event. | Before her speech, Sarah had butterflies in her stomach, making her a bit shaky. |
| On edge | Being tense or nervous, waiting for something bad to happen. | After the accident, John was constantly on edge, afraid of another mishap. |
| Jumping out of your skin | Feeling extremely startled or frightened. | When the loud thunderclap echoed, Lisa felt like she was jumping out of her skin. |
| Nail-biting | Being very worried or anxious about something. | Waiting for the test results was nail-biting for Tim; he couldn’t stop thinking about it. |
| Sweating bullets | Sweating excessively due to nervousness or anxiety. | While waiting for the interview, Jane was sweating bullets, worrying if she would do well. |
| Heart in your throat | Feeling scared or anxious due to a sudden shock or fear. | When the car nearly crashed into hers, Emily felt her heart in her throat. |
| Nervous wreck | Someone who is extremely anxious and unable to calm down. | After losing her wallet, Sarah became a nervous wreck, searching everywhere for it. |
| Shaky as a leaf | Trembling or shivering due to nervousness or fear. | Mark was shaky as a leaf during the scary movie, unable to control his fear. |
| Walking on eggshells | Being very cautious and careful in a situation to avoid conflict. | In a room full of angry people, Joe felt like he was walking on eggshells, trying not to make anyone angrier. |
| Tied up in knots | Feeling very anxious and tense, as if your stomach is tied in knots. | The thought of the upcoming exam had Maria tied up in knots for weeks. |
| Twitchy | Nervous or jittery, often with sudden, small movements. | The caffeine made Mike feel twitchy, and he couldn’t sit still for long. |
| High strung | Easily agitated or anxious, having a tendency to get nervous quickly. | Emily is high strung and tends to worry about the smallest things. |
| Hair-raising | Extremely frightening or causing intense fear. | The haunted house was so scary that it was a hair-raising experience for everyone. |
| Panic attack | A sudden and intense episode of extreme anxiety or fear. | Mary had a panic attack before her first public speaking event, making it difficult for her to go on stage. |
| Biting your nails | A habit of chewing on your nails when anxious or nervous. | Watching a horror movie always made Susan start biting her nails without even realizing it. |
| Heart pounding | When your heart beats loudly and rapidly due to anxiety or fear. | The roller coaster ride had my heart pounding with excitement and fear. |
| Feeling the jitters | Feeling anxious or nervous, often before an important event. | On the morning of his wedding day, Jack was feeling the jitters, but he couldn’t wait to marry his partner. |
| Up in arms | Being very angry or upset about something. | The decision to cancel the school picnic had parents up in arms, demanding it be rescheduled. |
| Cold feet | Feeling nervous or unsure about something you were previously excited about. | On the day of the big game, Tom got cold feet and considered not playing. |
| Mind racing | When your thoughts are racing, often due to anxiety or stress. | With the deadline approaching, Sarah’s mind was racing as she tried to finish her project. |
| Having a meltdown | Experiencing a complete breakdown or loss of control due to extreme stress or anxiety. | After a long day of work and unexpected problems, Jane had a meltdown and couldn’t hold back her tears. |
| Feeling on edge | Being in a state of nervousness or unease. | Waiting for the medical test results, Bill was feeling on edge, worried about his health. |
| Shaking like a leaf | Trembling uncontrollably due to fear or anxiety. | During the thunderstorm, the young child was shaking like a leaf, scared of the loud thunder. |
| Sweating buckets | Sweating profusely due to nervousness or intense anxiety. | Before the job interview, Mike was sweating buckets, feeling the pressure to perform well. |
| Twitching like a rabbit | Making sudden and involuntary movements due to anxiety or nervousness. | The thought of public speaking had Mark twitching like a rabbit, unable to stand still. |
| Being in a cold sweat | Breaking out in a sweat due to fear, nervousness, or anxiety. | Hearing a strange noise in the dark made Lisa break out in a cold sweat, fearing the worst. |
Metaphors can help convey the feeling, like comparing it to a relentless storm that rages within. To explore more metaphors for anxiety, you can visit this link: Metaphors for Anxiety. Similarly, similes offer comparisons that make anxiety more relatable, such as saying it’s as suffocating as being trapped in a small, dark room. Discover additional similes for anxiety here: Similes for Anxiety.
Idioms for Anxiety
1. Butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous or anxious, often before a big event or when anticipating something.
In a Sentence: Before her speech, Sarah had butterflies in her stomach, making her a bit shaky.
2. On edge
Meaning: Being tense or nervous, as if waiting for something bad to happen.
In a Sentence: After the accident, John was constantly on edge, afraid of another mishap.
3. Jumping out of your skin
Meaning: Feeling extremely startled or frightened.
In a Sentence: When the loud thunderclap echoed, Lisa felt like she was jumping out of her skin.
4. Nail-biting
Meaning: Being very worried or anxious about something.
In a Sentence: Waiting for the test results was nail-biting for Tim; he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
5. Sweating bullets
Meaning: Sweating excessively due to nervousness or anxiety.
In a Sentence: While waiting for the interview, Jane was sweating bullets, worrying if she would do well.
6. Heart in your throat
Meaning: Feeling scared or anxious, often due to a sudden shock or fear.
In a Sentence: When the car nearly crashed into hers, Emily felt her heart in her throat.
7. Nervous wreck
Meaning: Someone who is extremely anxious and unable to calm down.
In a Sentence: After losing her wallet, Sarah became a nervous wreck, searching everywhere for it.
8. Shaky as a leaf
Meaning: Trembling or shivering due to nervousness or fear.
In a Sentence: Mark was shaky as a leaf during the scary movie, unable to control his fear.
9. Walking on eggshells
Meaning: Being very cautious and careful in a situation, often to avoid conflict or upsetting someone.
In a Sentence: In a room full of angry people, Joe felt like he was walking on eggshells, trying not to make anyone angrier.
10. Tied up in knots
Meaning: Feeling very anxious and tense, as if your stomach is tied in knots.
In a Sentence: The thought of the upcoming exam had Maria tied up in knots for weeks.
11. Twitchy
Meaning: Nervous or jittery, often with sudden, small movements.
In a Sentence: The caffeine made Mike feel twitchy, and he couldn’t sit still for long.
12. High strung
Meaning: Easily agitated or anxious, having a tendency to get nervous quickly.
In a Sentence: Emily is high strung and tends to worry about the smallest things.
13. Hair-raising
Meaning: Extremely frightening or causing intense fear.
In a Sentence: The haunted house was so scary that it was a hair-raising experience for everyone.
14. Panic attack
Meaning: A sudden and intense episode of extreme anxiety or fear.
In a Sentence: Mary had a panic attack before her first public speaking event, making it difficult for her to go on stage.
15. Biting your nails
Meaning: A habit of chewing on your nails when anxious or nervous.
In a Sentence: Watching a horror movie always made Susan start biting her nails without even realizing it.
16. Heart pounding
Meaning: When your heart beats loudly and rapidly due to anxiety or fear.
In a Sentence: The roller coaster ride had my heart pounding with excitement and fear.
17. Feeling the jitters
Meaning: Feeling anxious or nervous, often before an important event.
In a Sentence: On the morning of his wedding day, Jack was feeling the jitters, but he couldn’t wait to marry his partner.
18. Up in arms
Meaning: Being very angry or upset about something.
In a Sentence: The decision to cancel the school picnic had parents up in arms, demanding it be rescheduled.
19. Cold feet
Meaning: Feeling nervous or unsure about something you were previously excited about.
In a Sentence: On the day of the big game, Tom got cold feet and considered not playing.
20. Mind racing
Meaning: When your thoughts are racing, often due to anxiety or stress.
In a Sentence: With the deadline approaching, Sarah’s mind was racing as she tried to finish her project.
21. Having a meltdown
Meaning: Experiencing a complete breakdown or loss of control due to extreme stress or anxiety.
In a Sentence: After a long day of work and unexpected problems, Jane had a meltdown and couldn’t hold back her tears.
22. Feeling on edge
Meaning: Being in a state of nervousness or unease.
In a Sentence: Waiting for the medical test results, Bill was feeling on edge, worried about his health.
23. Shaking like a leaf
Meaning: Trembling uncontrollably due to fear or anxiety.
In a Sentence: During the thunderstorm, the young child was shaking like a leaf, scared of the loud thunder.
24. Sweating buckets
Meaning: Sweating profusely due to nervousness or intense anxiety.
In a Sentence: Before the job interview, Mike was sweating buckets, feeling the pressure to perform well.
25. Twitching like a rabbit
Meaning: Making sudden and involuntary movements due to anxiety or nervousness.
In a Sentence: The thought of public speaking had Mark twitching like a rabbit, unable to stand still.
26. Being in a cold sweat
Meaning: Breaking out in a sweat due to fear, nervousness, or anxiety.
In a Sentence: Hearing a strange noise in the dark made Lisa break out in a cold sweat, fearing the worst.
10 Quizzes About The Idiom in The Article
Quiz 1: Butterflies in Your Stomach
- What does the idiom “butterflies in your stomach” mean?
- A. Feeling hungry
- B. Feeling nervous or anxious
- C. Feeling excited
- In which situation might someone have “butterflies in their stomach”?
- A. After a satisfying meal
- B. Before giving a speech
- C. While watching a comedy show
Quiz 2: On Edge
- What does the expression “on edge” signify?
- A. Feeling relaxed and calm
- B. Feeling tense or nervous
- C. Feeling energetic and happy
- When might you be “on edge”?
- A. After a good night’s sleep
- B. While waiting for important news
- C. During a relaxing vacation
Quiz 3: Jumping Out of Your Skin
- What does the idiom “jumping out of your skin” mean?
- A. Feeling physically energetic
- B. Feeling extremely startled or frightened
- C. Feeling excited about something
- In which situation might someone be “jumping out of their skin”?
- A. Watching a peaceful sunset
- B. Hearing a sudden loud noise
- C. Eating their favorite dessert
Quiz 4: Nail-Biting
- What does the expression “nail-biting” indicate?
- A. A habit of grooming one’s nails
- B. Being very worried or anxious
- C. Enjoying a delicious meal
- When might someone engage in “nail-biting”?
- A. While taking a leisurely walk
- B. When waiting for important test results
- C. After completing a challenging task
Quiz 5: Sweating Bullets
- What does the idiom “sweating bullets” mean?
- A. Exercising vigorously
- B. Sweating excessively due to nervousness or anxiety
- C. Staying cool in hot weather
- In which scenario might you find yourself “sweating bullets”?
- A. While sitting in an air-conditioned room
- B. Before a job interview
- C. While relaxing at the beach
Feel free to use these quizzes to test your knowledge of idioms related to anxiety!
Conclusion
Anxiety is a common feeling, and we often use colorful idioms to describe it. These expressions, like “butterflies in your stomach” or “shaking like a leaf,” help us convey those uneasy emotions.
