Sometimes, we feel nervous. It can happen before a test, a speech, or even a school play. Our hearts beat faster, and our hands feel cold. These feelings are normal. People of all ages feel this way. To describe nervous feelings, people often use special phrases called idioms.
Idioms are fun and interesting. They don’t always mean exactly what the words say. For example, if someone says, “I have butterflies in my stomach,” they are not talking about real bugs. They mean they feel nervous. In this article, you will learn some idioms that people use when they feel nervous. You will also get to read a story and find the idioms inside it.
Idioms about Being Nervous
1. Have butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: To feel nervous or anxious, especially before something important.
Samples: I had butterflies in my stomach before giving my book report. / Emma had butterflies in her stomach before her piano recital.
To Put it Another Way: Jacob felt strange in his belly before the spelling bee. / Before my soccer tryout, I got that nervous feeling inside.
2. On edge
Meaning: Feeling nervous, tense, or easily upset.
Samples: Dad was on edge while waiting for my test results. / I was on edge all day before my dentist visit.
To Put it Another Way: Mom seemed jumpy while cooking for the school event. / I was super tense before my class speech.
3. Break out in a cold sweat
Meaning: To feel so nervous or scared that your body starts to sweat.
Samples: I broke out in a cold sweat when the teacher called on me. / He broke out in a cold sweat during the fire drill.
To Put it Another Way: I felt sweaty and scared when I had to read out loud. / My hands were wet before I went on stage.
4. Get cold feet
Meaning: To feel nervous and not want to do something at the last moment.
Samples: I got cold feet right before going on the roller coaster. / She got cold feet before trying out for the play.
To Put it Another Way: I almost changed my mind because I was so scared. / He didn’t want to perform because he was nervous.
5. A bundle of nerves
Meaning: To be very nervous or worried.
Samples: I was a bundle of nerves before the school dance. / He was a bundle of nerves waiting for his name to be called.
To Put it Another Way: I felt shaky before I went up to speak. / She was really jumpy before her turn in the game.
6. Sweating bullets
Meaning: To sweat a lot because you are very nervous.
Samples: I was sweating bullets before my math test. / He was sweating bullets during the big game.
To Put it Another Way: I was super sweaty because I was nervous. / She felt hot and nervous in front of the crowd.
7. Shaking like a leaf
Meaning: To be shaking because of nervousness or fear.
Samples: I was shaking like a leaf before my science presentation. / She was shaking like a leaf at the doctor’s office.
To Put it Another Way: His hands were shaking when he spoke to the class. / I was so scared, my knees were shaking.
8. A nervous wreck
Meaning: To feel very anxious and unable to stay calm.
Samples: I was a nervous wreck before tryouts. / She was a nervous wreck waiting for her turn to speak.
To Put it Another Way: He was pacing back and forth, super worried. / I felt like I was falling apart before the test.
9. Lose your cool
Meaning: To stop being calm because of stress or nervousness.
Samples: I lost my cool during the class debate. / She lost her cool when the teacher asked her a hard question.
To Put it Another Way: He got flustered and couldn’t talk. / I panicked and forgot my lines.
10. A deer in headlights
Meaning: To be so nervous or surprised that you freeze.
Samples: I was like a deer in headlights when the spotlight hit me. / He looked like a deer in headlights when the coach asked him a question.
To Put it Another Way: I stood still, not knowing what to do. / She froze when the class turned to look at her.
11. Feel faint
Meaning: To feel weak or dizzy because of nerves.
Samples: I felt faint before my shot at the clinic. / He felt faint while waiting to sing.
To Put it Another Way: / She said her head felt funny. / My legs felt like jelly because I was so nervous.
12. Heart in your throat
Meaning: To feel very nervous or scared.
Samples: My heart was in my throat before opening my report card. / Her heart was in her throat as she waited for her turn.
To Put it Another Way: I felt like I couldn’t breathe right. / He held his breath in fear.
13. Can’t sit still
Meaning: Too nervous to stay in one place.
Samples: I couldn’t sit still before my spelling test. / He couldn’t sit still before his turn on stage.
To Put it Another Way: I kept moving in my seat. / She was fidgeting the whole time.
14. Chew your nails
Meaning: To bite your nails because you’re nervous.
Samples: She chewed her nails while waiting for her grade. / I chewed my nails before the talent show.
To Put it Another Way: He kept putting his fingers in his mouth. / I couldn’t stop biting my nails.
15. Lose your voice
Meaning: To become too nervous to speak.
Samples: I lost my voice during my class speech. / She lost her voice when the teacher asked her to read.
To Put it Another Way: No sound came out when I tried to talk. / He whispered because he was too scared to speak loud.
16. Choke under pressure
Meaning: To make mistakes because you’re too nervous.
Samples: I choked under pressure and forgot the answer. / She choked under pressure during the final round.
To Put it Another Way: He froze up and couldn’t do it right. / I got too nervous and messed up.
17. Jump out of your skin
Meaning: To be so nervous or scared that you jump.
Samples: I jumped out of my skin when the balloon popped. / She jumped out of her skin when her name was called.
To Put it Another Way: I got so scared, I almost leaped from my seat. / He flinched really hard.
18. Feel the heat
Meaning: To feel pressure or stress.
Samples: I felt the heat during the final spelling round. / He felt the heat when everyone was watching him.
To Put it Another Way: She felt the pressure to do well. / I was really feeling the stress.
19. Bite your lip
Meaning: To press your lips together because you’re nervous.
Samples: I bit my lip while waiting for my turn. / She bit her lip during the big test.
To Put it Another Way: He pressed his mouth shut tightly. / I was trying hard not to show I was scared.
20. Knock knees
Meaning: Legs shake from being nervous.
Samples: My knees were knocking before I walked on stage. / He had knock knees during the performance.
To Put it Another Way: My legs were shaking so much I could hardly walk. / She felt wobbly when everyone stared.
21. Clam up
Meaning: To suddenly stop talking because you’re nervous.
Samples: I clammed up when the teacher asked me a question. / She clammed up during the interview.
To Put it Another Way: He couldn’t get a word out. / I got too nervous and stayed quiet.
22. Feel jumpy
Meaning: To feel nervous and startled easily.
Samples: I felt jumpy during the thunderstorm. / He felt jumpy before his magic act.
To Put it Another Way: She kept flinching at every noise. / I was twitchy the whole time.
23. Bite your tongue
Meaning: To stop yourself from speaking because you’re nervous or unsure.
Samples: I bit my tongue instead of answering the hard question. / He bit his tongue in front of the whole class.
To Put it Another Way: She wanted to speak, but didn’t. / I kept quiet because I was afraid to say the wrong thing.
24. Sit on pins and needles
Meaning: To feel very nervous while waiting for something.
Samples: I sat on pins and needles waiting for the team list. / She was on pins and needles before the winner was called.
To Put it Another Way: I couldn’t stop shaking in my seat. / He was full of nervous energy.
25. Feel like a cat on a hot tin roof
Meaning: To feel so nervous you can’t stay still.
Samples: I felt like a cat on a hot tin roof before the spelling contest. / He moved around like a cat on a hot tin roof waiting for his turn.
To Put it Another Way: She kept pacing and tapping her feet. / I couldn’t stop fidgeting.
26. Heart skips a beat
Meaning: To feel nervous or excited for a moment.
Samples: My heart skipped a beat when I saw my grade. / His heart skipped a beat when the door opened.
To Put it Another Way: I felt like my chest stopped for a second. / Her breath caught for a moment.
27. Have ants in your pants
Meaning: To feel restless or nervous and move around a lot.
Samples: I had ants in my pants before the talent show. / She had ants in her pants waiting in line.
To Put it Another Way: He kept moving and couldn’t sit still. / I was super antsy and excited.
28. Mind goes blank
Meaning: To forget everything because you’re too nervous.
Samples: My mind went blank during the math quiz. / Her mind went blank when she stood in front of the class.
To Put it Another Way: I forgot everything I studied. / He stood there not knowing what to say.
29. Have a lump in your throat
Meaning: To feel like you might cry because you’re nervous or scared.
Samples: I had a lump in my throat before I sang. / She had a lump in her throat during the speech.
To Put it Another Way: I felt like I couldn’t speak without crying. / He got choked up and almost cried.
30. Too scared to speak
Meaning: To be so nervous you can’t talk.
Samples: I was too scared to speak during the interview. / She was too scared to speak in front of the class.
To Put it Another Way: He opened his mouth but said nothing. / I tried to talk, but no sound came out.
Find the Idioms: Nervous Moments at the Talent Show
It was finally the day of the school talent show. Emily stood backstage, a bundle of nerves. Her hands were shaking, and she felt like she had butterflies in her stomach. She looked at the crowd and felt like a deer in headlights.
Her best friend Jenna tried to help. “You’ve practiced so much. You’ll do great,” she whispered. But Emily wasn’t so sure. She felt her knees knocking and thought her heart was in her throat.
When her name was called, Emily almost got cold feet. She took a deep breath and walked out anyway. The bright lights made her feel like she would clam up, but she remembered her song and began to sing.
By the end, the clapping made her smile. She still felt nervous, but at least she didn’t choke under pressure.
Instructions for Students:
Read the passage carefully.
Underline or list all the idioms that show someone feeling nervous.
Answer Key
- A bundle of nerves
- Butterflies in her stomach
- A deer in headlights
- Knees knocking
- Heart was in her throat
- Got cold feet
- Clam up
- Choke under pressure
Conclusion
Feeling nervous is something everyone goes through. Whether you’re giving a speech, performing in a play, or waiting for your turn, it’s normal to feel a little scared or unsure.
Idioms help us talk about these feelings in fun and creative ways. Now that you know some of these expressions, you can spot them in stories or even use them yourself. Keep paying attention language can be both simple and full of meaning.
