heebie-jeebies

[hee-bee-jee-beez]

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. Usually the heebie-jeebies a condition of extreme nervousness caused by fear, worry, strain, etc.; the jitters; the willies.

   Just thinking about ghosts gives me the heebie-jeebies.

heebie-jeebies

/ ˈhiːbɪˈdʒiːbɪz /

plural noun

1. slang,  apprehension and nervousness

Word History and Origins

Origin of heebie-jeebies¹

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; rhyming compound coined by W. De Beck (1890–1942), American comic-strip cartoonist

Word History and Origins

Origin of heebie-jeebies¹

C20: coined by W. De Beck (1890–1942), American cartoonist