a bag/bundle of nerves

a bag of nerves

Someone who is very nervous, anxious, or uneasy. Primarily heard in UK. I was a bag of nerves before the test started. Look at that poor bag of nerves over there. She's so anxious she's shaking. Carrie's been a total bag of nerves waiting for the doctor to call with the test results.

See also: bag, nerve, of

a bundle of nerves

Someone who is very nervous, anxious, or uneasy. I was a bundle of nerves before the driving test started. Look at that poor bundle of nerves over there. She's so anxious she's shaking. Thank goodness the doctor finally called with my test results—I've been a bundle of nerves this whole time.

See also: bundle, nerve, of

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

bundle of nerves

a very nervous person. I was a bundle of nerves before my dental appointment.

See also: bundle, nerve, of

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

bundle of nerves

Extremely jittery, tense, or fearful person, as in For months after the accident, Aunt Jane was a bundle of nerves. [1930s]

See also: bundle, nerve, of

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.

a bundle of nerves

BRITISH, AMERICAN or

a bag of nerves

BRITISH

If you say that someone is a bundle of nerves or a bag of nerves, you mean that they are extremely nervous. What's the matter? You're a bundle of nerves! Elaine admits she was a bag of nerves when she had to sing in front of the queen.

See also: bundle, nerve, of

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

a bag (or bundle) of nerves

a person who is extremely timid or tense. informal

See also: bag, nerve, of

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

a bag/bundle of ˈnerves

(informal) a person who is very frightened, worried or nervous about something: She was a bundle of nerves at the start of the interview but she became more confident later. ♢ He’s a bag of nerves. He needs a break.

See also: bag, bundle, nerve, of

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

bundle of nerves

n. a very nervous person. I’m just a bundle of nerves. I wish this were over.

See also: bundle, nerve, of

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

bundle of nerves

An extremely nervous person.

See also: bundle, nerve, of

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.