butterflies in one's stomach

butterflies in (one's) stomach

A feeling of nervousness. The butterflies in my stomach almost kept me from going on stage and performing. The butterflies in my stomach are really bad, Mom. I don't think I can go out there and pitch. Even though I'm student council president, I always get butterflies in my stomach before I have to make announcements in front of the whole school.

See also: butterfly, stomach

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

butterflies in one's stomach

Fluttering sensations caused by a feeling of nervous anticipation. For example, I always get butterflies in my stomach before making a speech. This term likens a nervous feeling to that resulting from swallowing live butterflies that fly about inside one. [c. 1900]

See also: butterfly, stomach

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.