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

Example Sentences

Darwin’s confessed heebie-jeebies about the unmolested eye hints that this response is related to something primal.

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Though, if animals could vote, I suspect they'd turn out for the Democrats, because Republicans can't seem to talk about pets without giving everyone the heebie-jeebies.

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These are the kind of numbers that will well and truly give Conservative MPs the heebie-jeebies.

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That is a double dose of the heebie-jeebies delivered in one day to nervous Tories.

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"I'm a bit of a clean freak and when I come in here it gives me the heebie-jeebies. I just can't wait to get out of here."

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