jitter

case of the jitters

A temporary state of nervous anxiety or anticipation. Marty: "Are you ready to deliver your speech?" Anthony: "Yeah. I've got a bad case of the jitters though!" I have a song that I hum to myself to when I've got a case of the jitters before big competitions, and it really does help! It's perfectly normal to have a case of the jitters before you have to go onstage.

See also: case, jitter, of

get the jitters

To experience a temporary state of nervous anxiety or anticipation. A: "Are you ready to deliver your speech?" B: "Yeah. I've got a bad case of the jitters, though!" Ugh, I get the jitters just thinking about having to play in front of all those people. I don't understand how you don't get the jitters with public speaking. I would be shaking the whole time I was on stage!

See also: get, jitter

the jitters

A temporary state of nervous anxiety or anticipation. Marty: "Are you ready to deliver your speech?" Anthony: "Yeah. I've got the jitters real bad, though!" I have a song that I hum to myself to help get rid of the jitters before big competitions.

See also: jitter

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

get/have the ˈjitters

(informal) feel anxious and nervous, especially before an important event or before having to do something difficult: I always get the jitters before exams. ♢ Louise had the pre-wedding jitters so badly she nearly didn’t make it to the church.

See also: get, have, jitter

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

the jitters

(ˈdʒɪdɚz)

n. the nervous shakes. I get the jitters when I have to talk in public.

See also: jitter

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.