Sometimes we feel nervous, scared, or unsure. These feelings can make our stomachs flip or our hands shake. We might worry about a big test, a lost pet, or if a friend is upset. Worry happens to everyone, even adults. It’s okay to feel this way sometimes.
Instead of always saying “I’m worried,” people use special phrases called idioms. Idioms are short expressions that don’t mean exactly what the words say. They help us talk about feelings in a fun or easier way. In this article, you will learn idioms people use when they feel worried. You might even start using them to show how you feel, too.
Idioms for Worried
1. On pins and needles
Meaning: Feeling very nervous or anxious.
Within a Sentence: I was on pins and needles waiting for my test results. / She was on pins and needles before her piano recital.
In Other Words: Feeling jumpy or super nervous.
2. A knot in your stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous or upset.
Within a Sentence: I had a knot in my stomach before the spelling bee. / He felt a knot in his stomach after the teacher called his name.
In Other Words: Nervous belly / Upset feeling inside.
3. Bite your nails
Meaning: Feeling so worried that you chew your nails.
Within a Sentence: I bit my nails during the scary movie. / She bites her nails when she’s stressed.
In Other Words: Show nervous habits / Feel uneasy.
4. Break into a cold sweat
Meaning: To suddenly start sweating because of fear or worry.
Within a Sentence: I broke into a cold sweat before my speech. / He broke into a cold sweat when he heard the bad news.
In Other Words: Sweat from nerves / Feel frozen with worry.
5. Lose sleep over it
Meaning: Worrying so much that you can’t sleep.
Within a Sentence: I lost sleep over my missing homework. / Mom lost sleep over the storm coming.
In Other Words: Stay awake worrying / Can’t stop thinking.
6. Have butterflies in your stomach
Meaning: Feeling nervous, especially before something big.
Within a Sentence: I had butterflies before my performance. / She got butterflies in her stomach before the race.
In Other Words: Nervous excitement / Tummy feels weird.
7. Pace back and forth
Meaning: Walking around because you’re worried.
Within a Sentence: I paced back and forth, waiting for the doctor. / Dad paced when the phone rang late at night.
In Other Words: Walk around nervously / Can’t sit still.
8. In over your head
Meaning: Feeling like something is too hard or too much to handle.
Within a Sentence: I felt in over my head with the science project. / She’s in over her head with all the homework.
In Other Words: Too much to handle / Feeling stuck.
9. Sweating bullets
Meaning: Very, very worried.
Within a Sentence: I was sweating bullets before my turn to speak. / He sweated bullets when he saw the mistake.
In Other Words: Super nervous / So scared you sweat.
10. Carry the weight of the world
Meaning: Feeling like you have too many worries.
Within a Sentence: She looked like she carried the weight of the world. / He acted like everything was his problem.
In Other Words: Too many things to worry about / Heavy feeling.
11. On edge
Meaning: Feeling tense or nervous.
Within a Sentence: I was on edge during the thunderstorm. / She was on edge before her big test.
In Other Words: Jumpy / Tense / Not relaxed.
12. Walk on eggshells
Meaning: Being very careful not to upset someone.
Within a Sentence: I walked on eggshells around my grumpy brother. / She felt like she had to walk on eggshells at dinner.
In Other Words: Be extra careful / Try not to make things worse.
13. At your wit’s end
Meaning: Feeling like you can’t take any more stress.
Within a Sentence: I was at my wit’s end with my messy locker. / Mom said she was at her wit’s end with the noise.
In Other Words: Fed up / Don’t know what to do.
14. Heart in your mouth
Meaning: Feeling scared or very nervous.
Within a Sentence: My heart was in my mouth during the spelling test. / He had his heart in his mouth when the dog ran into the street.
In Other Words: Really scared / Worried badly.
15. Chew over
Meaning: Thinking a lot about something.
Within a Sentence: I chewed over what my friend said all night. / He kept chewing over the bad grade.
In Other Words: Keep thinking / Worry silently.
16. Nail-biter
Meaning: A situation that makes people very nervous.
Within a Sentence: That soccer game was a real nail-biter. / The movie’s ending was a nail-biter.
In Other Words: So tense / Makes you nervous.
17. Fretting over
Meaning: Worrying too much about something.
Within a Sentence: She’s fretting over her outfit. / I was fretting over the report card.
In Other Words: Worrying a lot / Thinking too hard.
18. Stressed out
Meaning: Feeling worried or tense.
Within a Sentence: I’m stressed out about the big project. / He looked stressed out before tryouts.
In Other Words: Too much pressure / Nervous.
19. A lump in your throat
Meaning: Feeling like you’re about to cry or scared.
Within a Sentence: I had a lump in my throat when I saw the bad news. / She got a lump in her throat during the sad part.
In Other Words: Close to crying / Very upset.
20. Can’t sit still
Meaning: Feeling too nervous to relax.
Within a Sentence: I couldn’t sit still before the dentist appointment. / He couldn’t sit still during the storm.
In Other Words: Too nervous / Fidgety.
21. Keep looking over your shoulder
Meaning: Feeling like something bad might happen.
Within a Sentence: I kept looking over my shoulder after the scary story. / She looked over her shoulder in the dark hallway.
In Other Words: Nervous someone’s behind you / Scared.
22. Mind racing
Meaning: Thinking about many things at once.
Within a Sentence: My mind was racing before the big day. / His mind raced during the test.
In Other Words: Too many thoughts / Can’t stop thinking.
23. Lose your nerve
Meaning: To become too scared to do something.
Within a Sentence: I lost my nerve and didn’t go on stage. / He lost his nerve before asking the question.
In Other Words: Got too scared / Backed out.
24. Hang by a thread
Meaning: Something could go wrong any minute.
Within a Sentence: My grade was hanging by a thread. / The game win was hanging by a thread.
In Other Words: Could fall apart / Very risky.
25. Scared stiff
Meaning: Very scared, can’t move.
Within a Sentence: I was scared stiff during the loud thunder. / He was scared stiff after seeing the snake.
In Other Words: Frozen with fear / Too scared to move.
26. Watch like a hawk
Meaning: To look at something closely because you’re worried.
Within a Sentence: I watched the clock like a hawk during the quiz. / She watched her phone like a hawk, waiting for the message.
In Other Words: Watch carefully / Keep checking.
27. Tense as a wire
Meaning: Very tight or nervous.
Within a Sentence: I felt as tense as a wire before my speech. / He was tense as a wire at the dentist.
In Other Words: Tight feeling / Really nervous.
28. Like a cat on a hot tin roof
Meaning: Jumping and nervous.
Within a Sentence: She was like a cat on a hot tin roof during the meeting. / I felt like a cat on a hot tin roof before the results.
In Other Words: Fidgety / Can’t stay calm.
29. Feel the pressure
Meaning: Feel stressed or pushed to do well.
Within a Sentence: I felt the pressure before the spelling bee. / He felt the pressure to win.
In Other Words: Too much stress / Feeling pushed.
30. Break out in hives
Meaning: Get itchy bumps because of stress or worry.
Within a Sentence: I broke out in hives before the test. / She breaks out in hives when she’s nervous.
In Other Words: Skin reaction from nerves / Stress bumps.
31. Shaky hands
Meaning: Hands shaking from nerves.
Within a Sentence: My hands were shaky before I gave my speech. / He had shaky hands when he opened the letter.
In Other Words: Nervous hands / Hard to stay still.
32. Bite your lip
Meaning: Holding back worry or fear.
Within a Sentence: I bit my lip while waiting for the answer. / She bit her lip during the scary story.
In Other Words: Quietly nervous / Trying to stay calm.
33. In a stew
Meaning: Worrying or stressing over something.
Within a Sentence: He was in a stew about the lost paper. / I’m in a stew about the big test.
In Other Words: Stressed out / Full of worry.
34. At a loss
Meaning: Not sure what to do next.
Within a Sentence: I was at a loss when my project disappeared. / She was at a loss after the confusing homework.
In Other Words: Don’t know what to do / Confused and worried.
35. Frozen with fear
Meaning: Too scared to move or act.
Within a Sentence: I was frozen with fear when I heard the noise. / He was frozen with fear before going on stage.
In Other Words: Too scared to move / Very nervous.
36. Up all night
Meaning: Unable to sleep because of worry.
Within a Sentence: I was up all night thinking about the test. / Mom was up all night waiting for the call.
In Other Words: Couldn’t sleep / Too worried.
37. Cracking under pressure
Meaning: Starting to lose control because of stress.
Within a Sentence: He cracked under pressure during the finals. / I felt like I was cracking under pressure with all the homework.
In Other Words: Overwhelmed / Can’t handle the stress.
38. Jump at every sound
Meaning: Very jumpy and nervous.
Within a Sentence: I jumped at every sound in the dark house. / She jumped at every noise after the storm.
In Other Words: Scared easily / Very alert.
39. Breaking point
Meaning: So stressed you feel like you can’t take more.
Within a Sentence: I was at my breaking point with the project. / He hit his breaking point after all the pressure.
In Other Words: Can’t take it anymore / Very stressed.
40. Don’t know which way to turn
Meaning: Feeling unsure or stuck.
Within a Sentence: I didn’t know which way to turn with so much to do. / She didn’t know which way to turn after the argument.
In Other Words: Confused / Don’t know what to do.
41. Waiting for the other shoe to drop
Meaning: Expecting something bad to happen.
Within a Sentence: I felt like I was waiting for the other shoe to drop after the bad news. / She waited for the other shoe to drop all day.
In Other Words: Worried something else is coming / Feeling uneasy.
42. Nerves of jelly
Meaning: Feeling very weak or shaky from worry.
Within a Sentence: I had nerves of jelly before my turn. / His nerves were like jelly before the game.
In Other Words: Shaky / Can’t keep calm.
43. Feel like a mess
Meaning: Feeling upset or worried inside.
Within a Sentence: I felt like a mess before the interview. / She said she felt like a mess during the test.
In Other Words: Upset / Can’t think straight.
44. Teeth chattering
Meaning: Teeth shaking from fear or nerves.
Within a Sentence: My teeth were chattering in the cold and from nerves. / He had chattering teeth before the speech.
In Other Words: So nervous you shake / Scared and cold.
45. Clammy hands
Meaning: Wet, sweaty hands from nerves.
Within a Sentence: My hands were clammy before the game. / She had clammy hands waiting in line.
In Other Words: Sweaty hands / Nervous sweat.
46. Sick with worry
Meaning: Feeling so worried that you feel unwell.
Within a Sentence: I felt sick with worry before the doctor’s call. / She looked sick with worry over her dog.
In Other Words: So worried it hurts / Very upset.
47. Like a deer in headlights
Meaning: Frozen in fear.
Within a Sentence: I stood like a deer in headlights when the teacher called on me. / He froze like a deer in headlights on stage.
In Other Words: Too scared to move / Frozen by nerves.
48. Tied up in knots
Meaning: Feeling tense and worried.
Within a Sentence: My stomach was tied up in knots before my turn. / Her thoughts were tied up in knots.
In Other Words: Nervous inside / Feeling tangled.
49. Feel uneasy
Meaning: Something doesn’t feel right.
Within a Sentence: I felt uneasy about the stranger at the door. / She felt uneasy walking home alone.
In Other Words: Not comfortable / Nervous feeling.
50. Carry a heavy heart
Meaning: Feeling sad and worried.
Within a Sentence: He carried a heavy heart after saying goodbye. / She had a heavy heart about the lost cat.
In Other Words: Sad and worried / Heart feels low.
51. Losing your cool
Meaning: Starting to get upset because of nerves.
Within a Sentence: I lost my cool when the project didn’t print. / He lost his cool before the game started.
In Other Words: Couldn’t stay calm / Getting upset.
52. Feel faint
Meaning: So nervous you feel dizzy.
Within a Sentence: I felt faint before the school play. / She felt faint from all the worry.
In Other Words: Dizzy from stress / Light-headed.
53. Choking up
Meaning: Can’t speak because of strong feelings.
Within a Sentence: I choked up when I had to say goodbye. / He choked up during his speech.
In Other Words: Too emotional to talk / Words stuck.
54. Losing your appetite
Meaning: Too worried to eat.
Within a Sentence: I lost my appetite before the test. / She didn’t eat all day because she was nervous.
In Other Words: Can’t eat / Feeling anxious.
55. Stuck in your head
Meaning: Can’t stop thinking about something.
Within a Sentence: The worry stayed stuck in my head all day. / He couldn’t sleep because it was stuck in his head.
In Other Words: Can’t stop worrying / Looping thoughts.
56. White as a ghost
Meaning: Skin turns pale from fear or shock.
Within a Sentence: He turned white as a ghost after hearing the news. / She looked white as a ghost before the test.
In Other Words: Very pale / Super scared.
57. Can’t breathe
Meaning: Feeling so anxious you forget to breathe.
Within a Sentence: I felt like I couldn’t breathe during my speech. / She said she couldn’t breathe from nerves.
In Other Words: Out of breath from worry / Overwhelmed.
58. Feel like crying
Meaning: So worried or sad you want to cry.
Within a Sentence: I felt like crying before the teacher handed back the test. / She felt like crying during the talk.
In Other Words: Very upset / Almost in tears.
59. Wringing your hands
Meaning: Twisting hands from nervousness.
Within a Sentence: I was wringing my hands before going on stage. / He wrung his hands, waiting for the results.
In Other Words: Nervous hands / Can’t stop fidgeting.
60. Feel out of control
Meaning: Can’t manage your feelings or the situation.
Within a Sentence: I felt out of control during the fire drill. / She felt out of control with all the homework.
In Other Words: Too much to handle / Can’t stay calm.
Idioms for Worried – True/False Quiz
1. If someone has “butterflies in their stomach,” they feel very excited and calm.
True / False
2. Saying “I lost sleep over it” means you were so worried that you didn’t sleep.
True / False
3. If your “heart is in your mouth,” it means you’re feeling super relaxed.
True / False
4. “Sweating bullets” means you’re very calm and confident.
True / False
5. When someone says “on pins and needles,” they are probably nervous.
True / False
6. If you’re “frozen with fear,” you feel stuck and very scared.
True / False
7. “Carry the weight of the world” means you feel like everything is easy.
True / False
8. If someone says, “My hands are clammy,” it means their hands are warm and dry.
True / False
9. “Wringing your hands” is something people do when they feel worried or upset.
True / False
10. “Up all night” means you slept really well without any worry.
True / False
11. If someone “chokes up,” they are too nervous or sad to talk.
True / False
12. “Feel like crying” means you are so happy you want to laugh.
True / False
13. “Mind racing” means your brain is thinking fast about many things.
True / False
14. “Breaking point” means you’re relaxed and stress-free.
True / False
15. “Like a deer in headlights” means someone is very calm and focused.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
Scoring Guide
- 15 Correct Answers: Idioms Master!
- 10–14 Correct Answers: You really get Idioms, nice work!
- 6–9 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–5 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Idioms together!
Conclusion
Worry is a feeling we all know. It can show up before a big game, test, or even when something just doesn’t feel right. Idioms give us a fun and clear way to talk about those nervous feelings. Instead of saying, “I’m scared” or “I’m nervous,” you can use phrases like “on edge” or “butterflies in my stomach” to show what you mean.
Now that you’ve seen 60 idioms for feeling worried, try using them in real life. Whether you’re telling a story or writing something, idioms help your words sound real and full of feeling. Keep learning and practicing, and soon, these phrases will feel like second nature.
