Nervous Nellie

Pronunciation: /ˈnɜrvəs ˈnɛli/

Definitions of nervous Nellie

noun a person who is excessively or chronically anxious or uneasy

Example Sentences

adjective describing someone who is anxious or uneasy

Example Sentences

A1 She is a nervous Nellie when it comes to public speaking.

A2 The new student is a nervous Nellie about making friends.

B1 Despite being a nervous Nellie, she decided to try bungee jumping.

B2 The nervous Nellie driver refused to go over the speed limit.

C1 Even though she is a nervous Nellie, she always manages to stay calm in emergencies.

C2 The CEO may appear confident in public, but deep down she is a nervous Nellie.

Examples of nervous Nellie in a Sentence

formal The nervous Nellie in the group always double checks everything before making a decision.

informal Don't be such a nervous Nellie, everything will be fine.

slang She's such a nervous Nellie, always worrying about every little thing.

figurative Being a nervous Nellie won't help you in this situation, you need to stay calm and focused.

Grammatical Forms of nervous Nellie

• past tense: nervous Nellie
• plural: nervous Nellies
• comparative: more nervous Nellie
• superlative: most nervous Nellie
• present tense: is a nervous Nellie
• future tense: will be a nervous Nellie
• perfect tense: has been a nervous Nellie
• continuous tense: is being a nervous Nellie
• singular: a nervous Nellie
• positive degree: nervous Nellie
• infinitive: to be a nervous Nellie
• gerund: being a nervous Nellie
• participle: a nervous Nellie

Origin and Evolution of nervous Nellie

First Known Use: 1949 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'Nervous Nellie' originated in the United States and is believed to have been inspired by the character Nellie Forbush from the musical 'South Pacific'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe someone who is overly anxious or easily agitated, the term 'Nervous Nellie' has evolved to refer to anyone who is overly nervous or easily worried.