bundle of nerves

noun

1. someone who is overcome with worry, fear, or anxiety:

   He’s an incredible singer but a complete bundle of nerves before a performance.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bundle of nerves¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Idioms and Phrases

Extremely jittery, tense, or fearful person, as in For months after the accident, Aunt Jane was a bundle of nerves . [1930s]

Related Words

• agitated
• anxious
• disturbed
• edgy
• fidgety
• itchy
• nervous
• restive
• sleepless
• troubled
• uneasy
• unruly
• unsettled