jitter — a feeling of nervousness or anxiety, especially before an important event
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a feeling of nervousness or anxiety, especially before an important event
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdʒɪtər/
Example Sentences
- My mom gets the jitters whenever she has to parallel park.
- The caffeine jitters made him type like a hummingbird on steroids.
- First-date jitters are completely normal.
jitter
NOUN[/ˈdʒɪtər/]
a feeling of nervousness or anxiety, especially before an important event
Pre-audition nerves and anxiety
Jitters turn bitter, but the stage still glitter!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Jitter originated in American English around 1929, emerging from jazz music and dance culture. The term derives from the excited, trembling movements of dancers in jazz clubs, where the rhythmic shaking and nervous energy became associated with the word's meaning of rapid, involuntary vibration or oscillation.
Breakdown
Jitter developed from onomatopoetic expression, where the sound and rhythm of the word itself mimics the quick, trembling movements it describes. The term evolved from mimetic/imitative roots characteristic of jazz-era American slang.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom gets the jitters whenever she has to parallel park.”
“The caffeine jitters made him type like a hummingbird on steroids.”
“First-date jitters are completely normal.”
“She tried deep breathing to overcome her presentation jitters.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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