Everyone feels worried sometimes. It might happen before a test, when a friend is upset, or when we don’t know what will happen next. Worry can make our stomach hurt, keep us up at night, or make us quiet. People often use special sayings, called idioms, to explain these feelings in simple ways. These idioms help others understand how we feel without using many words.
In this article, you will learn some common idioms that people use when they feel worried. These phrases are often heard in movies, books, and daily talk. By learning them, you can talk about your feelings more clearly. You might also notice when someone else is feeling uneasy. Let’s look at some idioms that show how people express worry in fun and easy-to-remember ways.
Idioms for Worried
1. Butterflies in my stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous or worried.
For Example: I had butterflies in my stomach before the spelling test.
Alternatively: She gets butterflies in her stomach when speaking in front of the class.
2. On edge
Meaning: Feeling nervous or easy to upset.
For Example: I was on edge waiting for my turn to speak.
Alternatively: He was on edge before his dentist appointment.
3. In a cold sweat
Meaning: Feeling scared or very nervous.
For Example: I woke up in a cold sweat after a scary dream.
Alternatively: She was in a cold sweat before the big game.
4. Heart in your mouth
Meaning: Feeling very scared or worried.
For Example: My heart was in my mouth when I lost my homework.
Alternatively: He had his heart in his mouth when the teacher called his name.
5. Walking on eggshells
Meaning: Being very careful not to upset someone.
For Example: I was walking on eggshells after I broke my brother’s toy.
Alternatively: She walked on eggshells around her grumpy uncle.
6. Break into a cold sweat
Meaning: To suddenly feel scared or anxious.
For Example: I broke into a cold sweat during the surprise quiz.
Alternatively: He broke into a cold sweat when the dog barked at him.
7. Lose sleep over something
Meaning: Worry so much that you can’t sleep.
For Example: I lost sleep over my science project.
Alternatively: She lost sleep over forgetting her friend’s birthday.
8. Get worked up
Meaning: Become very upset or worried.
For Example: Don’t get worked up it’s just a small mistake.
Alternatively: He got worked up about the game results.
9. Not out of the woods
Meaning: Still in trouble or danger.
For Example: We’re not out of the woods yet with the group project.
Alternatively: She still had more tests, so she wasn’t out of the woods.
10. Tie yourself in knots
Meaning: Worry so much that you feel mixed up inside.
For Example: I tied myself in knots about what to wear.
Alternatively: He tied himself in knots over the lost library book.
11. Bite your nails
Meaning: Show worry by chewing your nails.
For Example: She bites her nails before every test.
Alternatively: He was biting his nails during the storm.
12. At your wits’ end
Meaning: So worried or confused that you don’t know what to do.
For Example: I was at my wits’ end trying to find my lost backpack.
Alternatively: Mom was at her wits’ end with the noisy kids.
13. Get cold feet
Meaning: Feel nervous and unsure before doing something.
For Example: He got cold feet before jumping into the pool.
Alternatively: I got cold feet about singing in the school play.
14. Have a lot on your mind
Meaning: Be worried or thinking about many things.
For Example: I couldn’t focus I had a lot on my mind.
Alternatively: She had a lot on her mind before the school trip.
15. In a panic
Meaning: Feeling scared and unsure what to do.
For Example: I was in a panic when I couldn’t find my lunch.
Alternatively: He was in a panic about missing the bus.
16. Jump at every sound
Meaning: Be so nervous that small noises scare you.
For Example: She jumped at every sound during the scary movie.
Alternatively: He jumped at every sound in the dark basement.
17. Running scared
Meaning: Feeling very worried or nervous about something.
For Example: He was running scared after losing his wallet.
Alternatively: I was running scared about forgetting the homework.
18. Keep looking over your shoulder
Meaning: Be nervous something bad might happen.
For Example: She kept looking over her shoulder walking home alone.
Alternatively: He kept looking over his shoulder after telling a secret.
19. A knot in your stomach
Meaning: Feeling worried or upset inside.
For Example: I had a knot in my stomach before my speech.
Alternatively: She had a knot in her stomach before her test.
20. Break out in a sweat
Meaning: Start sweating because of fear or worry.
For Example: I broke out in a sweat before my name was called.
Alternatively: He broke out in a sweat during his first spelling bee.
21. Shaking like a leaf
Meaning: Trembling because of fear or worry.
For Example: He was shaking like a leaf before his first piano recital.
Alternatively: I shook like a leaf during the thunderstorm.
22. Sweating bullets
Meaning: Feeling very nervous or scared.
For Example: I was sweating bullets before my turn in the spelling bee.
Alternatively: He was sweating bullets during the fire drill.
23. Scared stiff
Meaning: So afraid that you can’t move.
For Example: I was scared stiff when I heard the alarm go off.
Alternatively: She was scared stiff watching the horror movie.
24. Mind racing
Meaning: Thinking about many things quickly due to worry.
For Example: My mind was racing before the big test.
Alternatively: His mind raced after he lost his homework.
25. Can’t sit still
Meaning: So nervous you keep moving around.
For Example: He couldn’t sit still before his doctor’s visit.
Alternatively: I can’t sit still when I’m waiting for results.
26. Feel uneasy
Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable or worried.
For Example: I felt uneasy about talking to the new student.
Alternatively: She felt uneasy walking past the dark hallway.
27. Like a deer in headlights
Meaning: So scared or surprised you freeze.
For Example: I stood like a deer in headlights when the teacher asked me a question.
Alternatively: He looked like a deer in headlights during his speech.
28. Keep pacing
Meaning: Walking back and forth because of nervousness.
For Example: I kept pacing before I got my test grade.
Alternatively: Dad kept pacing during the storm.
29. Bite your lip
Meaning: Trying to stay quiet when nervous or worried.
For Example: She bit her lip during the scary part of the movie.
Alternatively: He bit his lip while waiting to see the doctor.
30. Heart skips a beat
Meaning: Feeling sudden worry or surprise.
For Example: My heart skipped a beat when I saw my grade.
Alternatively: Her heart skipped a beat when the phone rang late at night.
31. A sinking feeling
Meaning: Feeling like something bad is going to happen.
For Example: I had a sinking feeling I left my book at home.
Alternatively: She had a sinking feeling about the test.
32. Afraid of your own shadow
Meaning: Very easily scared.
For Example: He’s so nervous, he’s afraid of his own shadow.
Alternatively: I felt like I was afraid of my own shadow after the scary story.
33. Hair standing on end
Meaning: Feeling fear that makes your body react.
For Example: My hair stood on end when I heard a strange sound.
Alternatively: Her hair stood on end during the ghost story.
34. Tense up
Meaning: Muscles get tight from stress or worry.
For Example: I tensed up before answering the question.
Alternatively: He tensed up when the teacher looked at him.
35. Sick with worry
Meaning: So worried that you feel sick.
For Example: She was sick with worry about her missing cat.
Alternatively: I was sick with worry when my brother got hurt.
36. Watch your every move
Meaning: Being very careful because you feel nervous.
For Example: I watched my every move during the science lab.
Alternatively: He watched his every move when near the teacher’s desk.
37. Glued to the news
Meaning: Watching closely because you’re worried.
For Example: We were glued to the news during the snowstorm.
Alternatively: Mom was glued to the news to see if school was closed.
38. Dread something
Meaning: Worry about something that is coming.
For Example: I dreaded going to the dentist.
Alternatively: She dreaded telling her mom about the broken vase.
39. Lose your nerve
Meaning: Become too scared to do something.
For Example: I lost my nerve before jumping off the diving board.
Alternatively: He lost his nerve about asking a question in class.
40. Worry yourself sick
Meaning: Worry so much that it affects your body.
For Example: I worried myself sick before the math test.
Alternatively: She worried herself sick waiting for her lost dog.
True/False Quiz: Idioms for Worried
Instructions: Read each statement and decide if it is True or False based on what you learned about idioms for worry.
- If someone has butterflies in their stomach, it means they ate something bad.
True / False - When you bite your nails, it can be a sign that you are nervous.
True / False - On edge means you feel calm and relaxed.
True / False - If someone says they are walking on eggshells, they are trying not to upset anyone.
True / False - Saying your heart is in your mouth means you feel very brave.
True / False - To break out in a sweat can mean you’re worried about something.
True / False - If someone gets cold feet, it means they are excited to try something new.
True / False - A knot in your stomach shows that you feel worried or scared.
True / False - When someone is shaking like a leaf, they are likely cold from the weather.
True / False - If you say I’m sick with worry, it means you are not feeling nervous at all.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
Scoring Guide
- 10 Correct Answers: Idioms Master!
- 7–9 Correct Answers: You really get Idioms nice work!
- 4–6 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Idioms together!
Conclusion
Feeling worried is normal, and many people use special phrases to explain it. These idioms help others know how we feel, even without saying much. Words like “butterflies in my stomach” or “on edge” can say a lot with just a few words.
Now that you know these idioms, you can use them in your writing and speaking. It makes your ideas clearer and helps you understand others better. Keep practicing and noticing these phrases around you they’ll soon feel like part of your everyday talk.
