heebie-jeebies

[ hee-bee-jee-beez ]

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. Usually the heebie-jeebies. a condition of extreme nervousness caused by fear, worry, strain, etc.; the jitters; the willies:

   Just thinking about ghosts gives me the heebie-jeebies.

heebie-jeebies

/ ˈhiːbɪˈdʒiːbɪz /

plural noun

1. the heebie-jeebies slang.
   apprehension and nervousness

Word History and Origins

Origin of heebie-jeebies¹

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; rhyming compound coined by W. De Beck (1890–1942), American comic-strip cartoonist

Word History and Origins

Origin of heebie-jeebies¹

C20: coined by W. De Beck (1890–1942), American cartoonist

Example Sentences

Though, if animals could vote, I suspect they'd turn out for the Democrats, because Republicans can't seem to talk about pets without giving everyone the heebie-jeebies.

From Salon

These are the kind of numbers that will well and truly give Conservative MPs the heebie-jeebies.

From BBC

That is a double dose of the heebie-jeebies delivered in one day to nervous Tories.

From BBC

"I'm a bit of a clean freak and when I come in here it gives me the heebie-jeebies. I just can't wait to get out of here."

From BBC

And then Josie had had to pretend she was laughing at the word “heebie-jeebies,” not the idea that Max was surrounded by whatnot androids all the time, and he didn’t even know it.

From Literature