Reverse Dictionary: NERVOUS

ADJECTIVES
– extremely nervous NERVOUS AS A MOTHER ‘ROO IN A ROOM FULL OF PICKPOCKETS Bk1999 Aust. sl.
– extremely nervous NERVOUS-JERVIS 1970s US college sl.
– extremely nervous and apprehensive; inclined to worry; old-womanish WORMY Bk1970 US railroad sl.
– extremely nervous and distraught KEYED-UP 20C US sl.
– feeling nervous, paranoid ON A PARA 1990s sl.
– in a nervous or excited condition; ‘in a state’ STATEFUL 2003 UK teen sl.
– in a nervous or jumpy state ALL OF A JUMP 1825 orig. US
– in a state of nervous tension or anxiety AGITATO 1964 colloq.
– nervous BOTTLEY 2000 UK sl.
– nervous CLUTCHED Bk2006 US sl.
– nervous NARVICAL 1880 Eng. dial.
– nervous; affected; of a child: spoiled VINNY 1873 Eng. dial.
– nervous, afraid BALMY World War I Amer. sl.
– nervous, afraid YARK 1880 Sc.
– nervous, agitated IN A TOOT 1943 Amer. dial.
– nervous, agitated, restless, irritable TWITCHED 1959 UK sl., orig. military usage
– nervous, agitated, restless, on edge, irritable TOEY 1930 sl., chiefly Aust.
– nervous; angry; irritable RINGY 1928 Amer. dial.
– nervous, anxious; confused; agitated NERVOUSED UP 1931 Amer. dial.
– nervous, anxious; confused; agitated NERVOUS-UPPED 1954 Amer. dial.
– nervous, anxious, tense UPTIGHT 1934 US
– nervous, anxious, uptight WIRED 1970s Amer. sl.
– nervous; aroused; ‘antsy’ YANTSY 1970s US sl.
– nervous, cowardly LOW-SPIRITED 1548 rare
– nervous, depressed, miserable OFF ONE’S FEED M19 sl.
– nervous, disturbed, unsettled FREAKED 1970 US sl.
– nervous, dithering with excitement ALL OF A DOODAH 1952 UK sl.
– nervous, downtrodden, downcast, cowed, subdued, bewildered, dumbfounded OOLED;  OOLT 1917 Sc.
– nervous, easily frightened, superstitious SPOOKY 1920s US sl.
– nervous, excitable, easily agitated NERVISH 1825 Sc. & Eng. & Amer. dial.
– nervous, faint-hearted KECKER-HEARTED 1896 Eng. dial.
– nervous, fidgety WADGETTY 1914 Amer. dial.
– nervous, fidgety, irritable, agitated, restless TWITCHY 1787
– nervous; forward; strong VOCE;  VOUCE;  VOUSE 1873 Eng. dial.
– nervous, hysterical; erratic, fastidious FITIFIED 1912 Amer. dial.
– nervous; ill at ease WINDY 1916 sl.
– nervous; ill at ease; scared, cowardly, tense NERVY 1891 sl.
– nervous, impatient JERKY 1899 Amer. dial.
– nervous in disposition; timorous GLIFFY B1900 Eng. dial.
– nervous, irritable, tense EDGY 1837 UK sl.
– nervous, jumpy, tense ALL OF A WONK 1910s sl.
– nervous, jumpy, touchy, ticklish GOOSEY;  GOOSY 1906 Amer. dial.
– nervous, jumpy; very easily frightened; scared of small or imaginary things AFRAID OF ONE’S SHADOW Bk1994 
– nervous or irritable as a result of confinement to close quarters SHACK WACKY 1991 Amer. dial.
– nervous or jumpy OFF ONE’S EGGS 1922 Sc.
– nervous or jumpy; wary or extremely cautious HINKEY;  HINKY 1956 Amer. sl.
– nervous, restless ANTSY 1838 Amer. sl.
– nervous, scared, jumpy, paranoid HINCTY;  HINKTY 1920s
– nervous, shaken up ESCAMADO 1960s US sl.
– nervous, shaky, unsteady; tottering, old, and not very well DODDLY 1953 Amer. dial.
– nervous, strange, squeamish QUEER WAYS 1827 Sc.
– nervous, tense UP 1990s African-American sl.
– nervous, tense, angry, excited HEATED UP L19 sl.
– nervous, tense, angry, excited HET UP L19 sl.
– nervous, timid CAFFLING Bk1898 Eng. dial.
– nervous, timid, afraid, fearful, timid, cowardly FUNKY 1835
– nervous, timid, fearful TIMMY Bk1905 Eng. dial.
– nervous, timid, mild, tender-hearted MILCH-HEARTED B1900 Eng. dial.
– nervous, timid; timorous, fearful TIMMERSOME 1740 Sc. & Eng. dial.
– nervous, timid; timorous, fearful TIMORSOME 1599-1600 obs. exc. Eng. dial.
– nervous, trembling MERVIL Bk1905 Sc.
– nervous, twitchy, agitated LIKE A FART IN A BOTTLE 1986 sl.
– nervous, twitchy, agitated LIKE A FART IN A COLANDER 2001 sl.
– nervous, twitchy, agitated LIKE A FART IN A FIT 1988 sl.
– nervous, twitchy, fidgety; also, of a thing, moving back and forth rapidly; jerky, jumpy TWITCHETY 1859
– nervous, unhappy, worried PACKED TIGHT 1970s US sl.
– nervous; vaguely indisposed ALL OVERISH c1850 Eng. sl.
– nervy, out of sorts, under the weather, unwell, tired RAGGED L19 sl., orig. Aust.
– nervy, very tense, anxious ON EDGE 1870 UK sl.
– on one’s best behaviour, esp. when slightly nervous HOPPING AROUND LIKE A GIN AT A CHRISTENING 1960s Aust. sl.
– partly nervous and partly sanguine SANGUINE-NERVOUS 1842

NOUNS
– a feeling of nervousness or uneasiness; the creeps FIDGIE-GIBBETS 1970 Amer. dial.
– a feeling of nervousness or uneasiness; the creeps THE FIDGES 1934 Amer. dial.
– a feeling of nervousness or uneasiness; the creeps THE FIDGETS 1899 Amer. dial.
– a fit of nerves; a panic attack; a sudden fit of temper ACE-DEUCE 1920s US sl.
– a fit of nervousness or irritation THE NEEDLE 1887
– a fit of nervousness, the fidgets BUDGE 1824 Amer. dial.
– a fluttering sensation felt in the stomach as a result of nervousness or apprehensive excitement BUTTERFLY STOMACH 1943
– a fluttering sensation felt in the stomach as a result of nervousness or apprehensive excitement BUTTERFLY TUMMY 1941
– a highly nervous state CAST-IRON SWEAT 1912 Amer. dial.
– an aggravated state of nervousness; the fidgets BUMFIDGETS 1950 Amer. dial.
– a nervous feeling; a sense of uneasiness or distaste SAMUEL PEPYS 1980s rhyming sl. for ‘creeps’ (‘Pepys’ pronounced ‘peeps’)
– an outburst of nervousness, excitement, or agitation JIMINY FIT 1906 Amer. dial.
– a showing nervousness, fear, or cowardice; backing out of or evading something due to nerves, cowardice, etc. FUNKING 1823 colloq.
– a state of extreme nervousness, panic, agitation, etc.; utter fear or terror FUNK 1743 sl.
– a state of nervousness or unease THE ALL-OVERS 1870 sl., chiefly US
– a state of nervousness or unease THE JIMMIES 1900 sl.
– a state of nervousness or unease THE JITTERS 1929 sl.
– a state of nervousness or unease THE SCREAMERS 1948 sl.
– a state of nervousness or unease THE SHAKES 1837 sl.
– a state of nervousness or unease THE WILLIES 1896 sl., orig. US
– a state of nervousness or unease THE WIND-UP 1917 sl.
– a state of nervousness, agitation, restlessness, confusion or dither for little reason TIZZ 1954 sl.
– a state of nervousness, agitation, restlessness, confusion or dither for little reason TIZZY 1935 sl., orig. US
– extreme nervousness, a state of cowardice, terror, fear; a state of panic FUNK 1743 orig. Oxford University sl.
– extreme nervousness; tremulous dread BLUE FUNK 1854 sl.
– feelings of nervousness, uneasiness, anxiety, or apprehension (THE) JIMJAMS 1896 Amer. dial.
– feelings of nervousness, uneasiness, apprehension, or depression THE WHIM-WHAMS;  THE WIM-WAMS 1931 Amer. dial.
– feelings of nervousness, uneasiness, apprehension, or depression THE WILLY-NILLIES 1965
– feelings of nervousness, uneasiness, apprehension, or depression THE WOOLLIES 1965 Amer. dial.
– feelings of nervousness, uneasiness, or apprehension JIGGERS 1966 Amer. dial.
– feelings of nervousness, uneasiness, or apprehension SKEEVERS 1930 Amer. dial.
– feelings of nervousness, uneasiness, or apprehension SKEEVIES 1994 Amer. dial.
– feelings of nervousness, uneasiness, or apprehension THE EEBIE-JEEBIES;  THE HEEBIE-JEEBERS;  THE HEEBIE-JEEBIES;  THE HEEBIES;  THE HEEBY-JEEBIES;  THE HEEBY JEEBYS;  THE HIBBIE-JEEBIES;  THE HIBBIE-JIBBIES;  THE HIBBIES;  THE HIBBIES-JIBBIES;  THE HIBBY JIBBYS 1923 s;. & Amer. dial
– feelings of nervousness, uneasiness, or apprehension THE HIGH BIJEEBEES 1923 Amer. dial.
– intense nervousness or anxiety; a feeling of internal queasiness at the prospect of a difficult or frightening undertaking THE COLLYWOBBLES 1959 sl.
– nerves MILLWALL RESERVES 1990s Brit. rhyming sl.
– nerves WEST HAM(S) (RESERVES) 1970s rhyming sl.
– nerves YIPS 1930s sl.
– nerves, apprehension, tension BUTTERFLIES;  BUTTERFLIES IN ONE’S STOMACH 1940s colloq.
– nerves, jitters, shakes ST. VITUS’S DANCE 20C sl.
– nervous tension or anxiety THE SCREAMING HABDABS 1945 Amer. sl.
– nervousness NERVISHNESS Bk1905 N. Ireland
– nervousness THE JUMPS 20C US sl.
– nervousness; a blue funk; a state of depression BLUE FEAR 1801
– nervousness accompanying exposure to a new situation or responsibility BUCK AGUE c1915 Amer. dial.
– nervousness accompanying exposure to a new situation or responsibility BUCK FEVER 1941 Amer. dial.
– nervousness; an attack of mental distress NERVOUS 1940 Amer. dial.
– nervousness, anxiety LEAPS 1922 US sl.
– nervousness, a showing fear, or cowardice; a backing out of or evading something due to nerves, cowardice, etc. FUNKING 1823 colloq.
– nervousness, fear, timidity FUNKINESS 1859 rare
– nervousness, fidgetiness, irritability; a being twitchy TWITCHINESS 1834
– nervousness; nervous irritation (THE) HAB-DABS;  HABS-DABS c1937 sl., chiefly Royal Air Force
– nervousness or depression; a depressed or gloomy mood; the blues GOLLYWOBBLES 1967 Amer. dial.
– nervousness or depression; an imaginary disease GONNYWOBBLES 1970 Amer. dial.
– nervousness or depression; some imaginary or undefined illness POLLYMARBLES 1971 Amer. dial.
– nervousness, the butterflies, or mistakes that result from nervousness KERKY-JERKIES Bk1971 US students’ sl.
– nervousness, the jitters THE PEADODDLES 1835 Amer. dial.
– nervousness, the jitters THE PEADOODLES 1992 Amer. dial.
– nervousness, the jitters THE PEEDOODLES 1995 Amer. dial.
– nervousness, the state of being nervous NERVOSITY 1787
– nervousness, uneasiness; a condition of anxiety THE ABDABS 1946 UK sl.
– nervousness, uneasiness; a condition of anxiety THE SCREAMING ABDABS 1946 UK sl.
– nervousness, worries YIKES 1970s sl.

NOUNS, PERSON
– a nervous, cowardly, or timorous person FUNK 1859 sl.
– a nervous, fidgety man WRINGLE-GUT 1777 Eng. dial.
– a nervous, fussy, fidgety, or meddlesome person FUSSBUDGET 1904 colloq.
– a nervous, fussy, fidgety, or meddlesome person FUSS-FART 1918 US sl.
– a nervous, fussy, fidgety, or meddlesome person FUSS-POT 1921 colloq.
– a nervous or agitated person JITTERBUG 1934 sl.
– a nervous person BAG OF JELLO Bk1968 students’ sl.
– a nervous, tense, and anxious person; someone frightened WHITE KNUCKLER 1980s US sl.
– a nervous, timid, cautious person RABBIT 1951 US sl.
– a nervous, timid, or cowardly person FUNKSTICK 1860 rare, orig. hunting usage
– a nervous, timid person SAWK 1892 Eng. dial.
– a person too nervous to speak out MOO-MOO 1996 W. Indies
– a person who is suffering from disorder of the nerves NERVOUS WRECK L19
– a very nervous person BUNDLE OF NERVES 1946 colloq.

PHRASES
1893 ► WHAT’S EATING YOU? what’s making you nervous or anxious → sl., orig. US
1947 ► OH, MY BATTERED CURVES! oh, my shattered nerves → Amer. sl. (Bk.)
1988 ► YOUR ARSE IS NIPPING BUTTONS you are nervous; you are full of trepidation → Sc. sl.

VERBS
– to act in a nervous manner; to fidget FIDGE 1916 Amer. dial.
– to act nervously or restlessly HAVE CLINKERS IN ONE’S BUM M19 sl.
– to await nervously SWEAT ON 1917 sl.
– to be in a nervous, irritable state FALL OFF THE ROOF 1970s US homosexual sl.
– to be in a nervous, troubled mood HAVE A FACE ON ONE 1988 sl.
– to be nervous or anxious SWEAT 1973 sl.
– to be nervous or anxious SWEAT ON THE TOP LINE 1919 sl., orig. services’ usage
– to be nervous or fearful CRAP 1928 sl.
– to be nervous or out of sorts HAVE THE WOOLIES 1900 US college sl.
– to be nervous or uneasy HAVE THE WILLIES 1896
– to be very nervous or off colour BE CHEWED UP c1920 sl.
– to be very nervous or worried; to feel thoroughly frightened CACK IT 2002 UK sl.
– to become nervous GET THE WIND UP 1916 sl.
– to become nervous or afraid CRACK World War II Amer. sl.
– to become nervous, (over-)excited, very angry LOSE ONE’S COOL c1955 sl.
– to become stiff, ineffective, and semi-paralyzed from nervous tension TENSE UP 1973 Amer. sl.
– to become very nervous or upset; to lose one’s composure; to go to pieces DROP YOUR BUNDLE 1847 Aust. sl.
– to feel nervous or twitchy YIP 1930s sl.
– to make a person nervous or jittery GEEK UP 1984 US sl.
– to make nervous or anxious RATTLE 1869 sl., orig. US
– to make nervous or worried CHEW UP Bk1999 
– to make nervous; to frighten; to make afraid PUT THE WIND UP 1916 sl.
– to make one nervous GIVE ONE THE RICKETS 1966 Amer. dial.
– to make one nervous or uneasy GIVE SOMEONE THE SCREAMING HABDABS 1946 sl.
– to make one nervous or uneasy GIVE SOMEONE THE WILLIES 1896 sl., orig. US
– to prepare and become nervous; to get uptight KEY Bk1970 US students’ sl.
– to show signs of nervousness NERVE 1801 obs.