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English Idioms about "Emotions"

Butterflies in your stomach

English Idiom

Meaning: Feeling nervous or anxious, especially before a significant event or experience. It's the sensation of fluttering or unease in your stomach that often accompanies anticipation or excitement.
Origin: The phrase 'butterflies in your stomach' is believed to have originated in the early 20th century. It draws a vivid picture of the fluttering sensation one might feel in their stomach when they are nervous or excited, much like the delicate fluttering of butterflies. This imagery captures the physical reaction many people experience during moments of heightened emotion.
Young couple in a vibrant garden surrounded by colorful flowers and butterflies during a sunset moment
OpenAI's DALL-E generated image

Examples

  • Jane felt butterflies in her stomach as she stepped onto the stage to deliver her speech.
  • Every time he thought about asking her out, he got butterflies in his stomach.
  • The anticipation of the big game gave all the players butterflies in their stomachs.
  • She had butterflies in her stomach before her first job interview.
  • As the plane took off, I couldn't help but feel butterflies in my stomach.
  • Meeting his future in-laws for the first time gave him butterflies in his stomach.
  • Despite years of performing, she still got butterflies in her stomach before each concert.
  • The thought of moving to a new city gave her butterflies in her stomach.
  • He felt butterflies in his stomach as he waited for the results to be announced.
  • Starting his own business gave him butterflies in his stomach, but he was excited for the challenge.