Feelings - Anticipation

Discover how English idioms like "come apart at the seams" and "on pins and needles" relate to anticipation in English.

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fever pitch

[noun]

a state characterized by great excitement or agitation

Ex: Excitement reached fever pitch as the final whistle approached.

to [get|set] {one's} [pulse|heart] racing

to get one's pulse racing

[phrase]

to make someone extremely excited

Ex: The thought of seeing her again set his heart racing.

like there's no time tomorrow

[phrase]

in a way one desires without being concerned about the future

Ex: They spent money like there's no time tomorrow, without thinking about the bills.

to pull one's hair out

[phrase]

to demonstrate signs of anxiousness, anger, or frustration in difficult situations

Ex: I was tearing my hair out trying to fix the printer before the meeting.

on pins and needles

[phrase]

in a very nervous or excited state because of something that is going to happen

Ex: We were on pins and needles waiting for the exam results.

like a cat on a hot tin roof

[phrase]

used to describe someone who is in a very agitated state of mind

Ex: He was like a cat on a hot tin roof before the results came out.

to [have|get] butterflies in {one's} [stomach]

to have butterflies in one's stomach

[phrase]

to be really excited or nervous about what is going to happen

Ex: I always get butterflies in my stomach before going onstage.

one's heart in one's mouth

[phrase]

an intense feeling of suspense, fear, or nervousness

Ex: My heart was in my mouth as the car skidded toward the barrier.

panic stations

[noun]

a sense of anxiety or urgency, because there is a lot that one must do quickly

Ex: It was panic stations in the office when the deadline moved up by two days.

to have ants in one's pants

[phrase]

to have a hard time staying calm due to being extremely nervous or excited about something

Ex: The kids had ants in their pants all morning before the school trip.

to meet trouble halfway

[phrase]

to have a tendency to become worried over something that has not yet happened

Ex: Don't meet trouble halfway; wait until you actually know what happened.

hot to trot

[phrase]

having a strong and urgent desire to do something

Ex: After weeks of planning, the team was hot to trot and ready to launch.

to go postal

[phrase]

to become extremely angry, agitated, or uncontrollably violent, typically in a workplace

Ex: When he found out his project had been cancelled, he nearly went postal.

like a chicken with its head cut off

[phrase]

used to describe someone who is extremely confused and excited

Ex: When the fire alarm went off, everyone ran around like chickens with their heads cut off.

shiver down one's spine

[phrase]

a sudden physical reaction to a strong emotional experience, such as fear, excitement, or awe, typically characterized by a cold or trembling sensation running down the back

Ex: A chill ran down my spine when I heard the whisper in the dark.

to come apart at the seams

[phrase]

to experience a breakdown or failure due to overwhelming stress or pressure

Ex: After months of overtime, the team began to fall apart at the seams.

in a stew

[phrase]

in a very troubled or nervous state

Ex: She was in a stew all morning waiting for the test results.

to have a cow

[phrase]

to be really stressed, angry, or upset about something that has happened or is going to happen

Ex: Don't have a cow just because the meeting was moved to tomorrow.

Feelings
Happiness	Excitement	Sadness or Discontent	Unhappiness & Disappointment
Anger	Rage	Losing One's Temper	Annoyance
Irritation	Fear & Terror	Anticipation	Shame & Embarrassment

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