stage fright

noun

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

stage fright

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of stage fright¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Idioms and Phrases

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]

Example Sentences

If the vice-president was hoping for a burst of last minute good news to quell any stage fright, she didn’t get it.

From BBC

It was then that Rife recognized the feeling of stage fright for the first time.

From Los Angeles Times

It didn’t help that she suffered from stage fright.

From Los Angeles Times

She is an introverted microbiologist who worships Don McLean, with a severe case of stage fright that causes her to heave her guts while performing — and not in a defiant, Iggy Pop way.

From New York Times

You have said that some of that was exaggerated, particularly early in your career, because you had stage fright.

From Salon