in a dither

Idioms  

1. Also, all of a dither;. In a state of tremulous agitation, as in Planning the wedding put her in a dither, or He tried to pull himself together, but he was all of a dither, or She showed up in such a flutter that our meeting was useless. The noun dither dates from the early 1800s and goes back to the Middle English verb didderen, “to tremble”; in a flutter dates from the mid-1700s; in a tizzy dates from about 1930 and is of uncertain origin.

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Example Sentences

So when director Robert J. Flaherty films his classic documentary “Man of Aran” nearby, the community, dazzled by the prospect of appearing in a Hollywood “fill-um,” is understandably in a dither.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2019

Karas' music became a worldwide sensation, leading to a U.S. ad campaign that promised, no kidding, "He'll have you in a dither with his zither!"

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2015

IN August, the federal Highway Trust Fund runs out of money, and Congress is in a dither.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 30, 2014

In their very first conversation Andrew's shiny sophistication crumples before the hypnotic sincerity of Saul; by the time they reach Miramar Andrew is in a dither to do something first-rate and make Saul admire him.

From Time Magazine Archive

Now that “Honest Abe” Lincoln had won the presidency, the South was in a dither.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Related Words

• afraid
• agitated
• anxious
• frightened
• hesitant
• jittery
• nervous
• panicky
• scared
• shy
• skittish
• tense
• timid
• uneasy