nervous wreck

Idioms and Phrases

An individual suffering from extreme agitation or worry, as in Pat was a nervous wreck until her mother arrived at the wedding . This expression is nearly always used hyperbolically. [ Colloquial ; c. 1900] Also see basket case .

Example Sentences

While Bacall seems like a paragon of cool confidence in the final product, she was a nervous wreck on set.

From The Daily Beast

I was a nervous wreck after sending and did not expect a reply.

From The Daily Beast

I poured so much into the book and I was a nervous wreck while waiting to hear what my editor thought.

From The Daily Beast

McCord himself showed evidence of the hardships he has passed through, being almost a nervous wreck.

From Project Gutenberg

Her new husband, who is apparently even more miserable without than with his wife, is a nervous wreck.

From Project Gutenberg

Three minutes in which he must reduce this stalwart fellow to a trembling, nervous wreck.

From Project Gutenberg

And now Lady Blanche beheld her child crushed and broken, a nervous wreck, before her life had truly begun.

From Project Gutenberg

I'm a nervous wreck, almost getting carted off to God knows where like that.

From Project Gutenberg