swivet

American  

[swiv-it] / ˈswɪv ɪt /

noun

1. a state of nervous excitement, haste, or anxiety; flutter.

   I was in such a swivet that I could hardly speak.

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swivet British  

/ ˈswɪvɪt /

noun

1. informal a state of anxiety, confusion, or excitement

   don't get yourself in a swivet

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Etymology

Origin of swivet

First recorded in 1890–95; origin obscure

Explanation

If you're flustered and upset, you're in a swivet. A minor traffic accident might send you into a swivet, especially if you're a nervous driver. Use the noun swivet when you need an old fashioned way to talk about a minor panic. Arriving late at the airport for an overseas flight or being lost in an unfamiliar city throws most of us into a swivet. You're most likely to come across this word in old books, since it's not used much these days. It was first coined from United States dialect in the 1890's, but not much else is known about its origin.

Example Sentences

The NFL’s wild Week 11 featured Myles Garrett getting in a swivet, Colin Kaepernick’s pivot and all those Azteca Stadium divots.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 19, 2019

The 30-page document does not accuse Lang or Bickerman of breaking any law regarding the election, which threw the wealthy Montgomery County town of 2,800 into a full-blown swivet.

From Washington Post • Sep. 3, 2015

I’m glad you recognize dreams are just fleeting figments, but there’s something odd about a wife who would articulate one that she surely knows will send her new husband into a swivet.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2015

It all started one day when I was in a swivet over a canceled flight out of St. Louis.

From New York Times • Feb. 17, 2012

So here’s me using swivet in a sentence.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King