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. the heebie-jeebies 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

Example Sentences

Whatever it is, the thing gave me the heebie-jeebies for a minute.

From Project Gutenberg

If it takes all this detail to fly straight and level, I'll get the heebie-jeebies when it comes to acrobatics!

From Project Gutenberg