stage fright

American  

noun

1. nervousness felt by a performer or speaker when appearing before an audience.

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stage fright British  

noun

1. nervousness or panic that may beset a person about to appear in front of an audience

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stage fright Idioms  

1. Acute nervousness when performing or speaking before an audience, as in When John first had to present his findings to the board of directors, stage fright made him stutter. [Second half of 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of stage fright

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

Here, she discusses the jazz warm-up she’s used for decades, dealing with stage fright and loving the divas she plays.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 17, 2025

I have terrible stage fright and I am always worried about disappointing people.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 28, 2025

"I have stage fright every single concert I've ever done," he later recalled.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2025

Watch our "Salon Talks" here, or read it below to hear more about Matafeo's love for the rom-com genre, grappling with stage fright, and why she's unapologetic about being child-free.

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2025

Ernest Lawrence, a Nobel laureate and the intimate friend of statesmen and millionaires, suffered a sudden bout of stage fright at his first meeting with a US president.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik