Well-read · Old & rare words · Body & health
Collywobbles: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Collywobbles noun. A queasy, fluttery feeling in the stomach, usually from nerves.
How to say it
KOL-ee-wob-ulz/ˈkɒlɪˌwɒb(ə)lz/
4 syllables, stressed on the first (KOL).
Collywobbles in a sentence
I always get the collywobbles before a job interview.
The swaying ferry gave half the passengers the collywobbles.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- butterflies
- jitters
- queasiness
- nerves
Where collywobbles comes from
From the 1820s, probably a playful mix of colic and wobble.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The swaying ferry gave half the passengers the _____.
- collywobbles
- panjandrum
- hullabaloo
Show the answer
collywobbles: The swaying ferry gave half the passengers the collywobbles.