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: The crowd 's excitement reached a fever pitch when the home team scored the winning goal .

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

to make someone extremely excited

Ex: The suspenseful movie got my pulse racing as I anxiously waited to see what would happen next .

like there's no time tomorrow [phrase]

in a way one desires without being concerned about the future

Ex:

to [pull|tear] {one's} hair out [phrase]

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

Ex: He pulled his hair out when he realized he had lost the keys to his car .

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 while waiting for the decision on our loan application .

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 when he was waiting for the exam results , unable to relax until he received them .

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

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

Ex: He had butterflies in his stomach throughout the entire competition , but his hard work paid off with a victory .

{one's} [heart] in {one's} mouth [phrase]

an intense feeling of suspense, fear, or nervousness

Ex:

panic stations [noun]

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

Ex: We went into panic stations when the storm hit and the power went out .

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: She had ants in her pants while waiting for the exam results , unable to sit still .

to [meet] trouble halfway [phrase]

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

Ex: At this rate , Brad will continue meeting trouble halfway by imagining all sorts of problems before any arise .

hot to trot [phrase]

having a strong and urgent desire to do something

Ex: He was hot to trot when he got the opportunity to present at the conference .

to [go] postal [phrase]

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

Ex: They went postal when the system crashed mid-shift .

like a chicken with its head cut off [phrase]

used to describe someone who is extremely confused and excited

Ex:

[shiver|chill] (down|up) {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:

to [come|fall] apart at the seams [phrase]

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

Ex: The team 's plans came apart at the seams when key members resigned unexpectedly .

in a stew [phrase]

in a very troubled or nervous state

Ex:

to [have] a cow [phrase]

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

Ex: When I told him I lost his wallet , he had a cow and yelled at me for hours .

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