worry beads

American  

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. a string of beads manipulated to relieve worry and tension.

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worry beads British  

plural noun

1. a string of beads that when fingered or played with supposedly relieves nervous tension

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Etymology

Origin of worry beads

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Perched on a stool in a tobacco-tinged community centre, Papadakis flips a set of worry beads and considers his answer.

From The Guardian • Mar. 21, 2019

When the family finally arrived in Greece, McKeon observed Onassis clasping on blue worry beads, rubbing them back and forth.

From Fox News • Oct. 22, 2018

Substituting something else, such as kneading a stress ball or worry beads, sometimes helps, as does wearing gloves.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2015

I put it in my pocket, fingering it like a set of worry beads.

From New York Times • Sep. 9, 2013

She kept counting her worry beads and, little by litde, they did their job.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides