willies

[ wil-eez ]

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. Usually the willies. nervousness or fright; the jitters; the creeps:

   That horror movie gave me the willies.

willies

/ ˈwɪlɪz /

plural noun

1. the willies slang.
   nervousness, jitters, or fright (esp in the phrase give ( or get ) the willies )

Word History and Origins

Origin of willies¹

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; origin obscure; -s ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of willies¹

C20: of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

see under the creeps .

Example Sentences

Just typing it gives us the willies.

From Slate

There’s a moment in “Dario Argento Panico,” a new documentary about the Italian horror movie maestro Dario Argento, that made me wonder if I’ve misunderstood why his assertively macabre and stylishly grotesque films so deeply give me the willies.

From New York Times

Democrats shut down the government in early 2018 when they insisted on protections for Dreamers; it lasted all of one weekend before they got the willies and backed down.

From Slate

“What about my dad? Does he give you the germ willies too?”

From Literature

Among the individuals charged were former Kanye West publicist Trevian Kutti, Willies Lewi Floyd III of "Black Voices for Trump," and Illinois pastor Stephen C. Lee, who allegedly conspired to solicit a false statement from Freeman about what happened during the vote count.

From Salon

Related Words

• angst
• apprehension
• concern
• disquiet
• doubt
• dread
• jitters
• misery
• misgiving
• mistrust
• nervousness
• panic
• restlessness
• suffering
• suspense
• trouble
• uncertainty
• unease
• uneasiness