Heebie Jeebies

Pronunciation: /ˈhiːbi ˈdʒiːbiz/

Definitions of heebie jeebies

noun anxiety or fear

Example Sentences

A1 When I see spiders, I get the heebie jeebies.

A2 The haunted house gave me the heebie jeebies.

B1 Watching horror movies usually gives me the heebie jeebies.

B2 The eerie silence of the abandoned building sent shivers down my spine, giving me the heebie jeebies.

C1 Despite his tough exterior, the thought of public speaking still gives him the heebie jeebies.

C2 The unexplained noises in the old mansion gave even the seasoned ghost hunter the heebie jeebies.

Examples of heebie jeebies in a Sentence

formal The eerie sounds in the abandoned house gave me the heebie jeebies.

informal That horror movie really gave me the heebie jeebies.

slang The creepy crawlies always give me the heebie jeebies.

figurative The thought of public speaking gives me the heebie jeebies.

Grammatical Forms of heebie jeebies

• past tense: had the heebie jeebies
• plural: heebie jeebies
• comparative: more heebie jeebies
• superlative: most heebie jeebies
• present tense: has the heebie jeebies
• future tense: will have the heebie jeebies
• perfect tense: has had the heebie jeebies
• continuous tense: is having the heebie jeebies
• singular: heebie jeebies
• positive degree: heebie jeebies
• infinitive: to have the heebie jeebies
• gerund: having the heebie jeebies
• participle: heebie jeebies

Origin and Evolution of heebie jeebies

First Known Use: 1923 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'heebie jeebies' is believed to have originated in African American slang in the early 20th century.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe a feeling of discomfort or unease, 'heebie jeebies' has evolved to also convey a sense of fear or anxiety in modern usage.