Have butterflies in one's stomach
Meaning
To feel a sensation of nervous excitement or anxiety, typically before an important event.
Origin
The vivid image of 'butterflies in one's stomach' is a relatively modern invention, though the sensation it describes is as old as anxiety itself. While people have long spoken of a 'fluttering' or 'sinking' feeling in their gut when nervous, it wasn't until the early 20th century that the delicate, erratic flight of the butterfly was used to perfectly capture this specific internal tumult. The phrase, appearing first in American literature around 1908, quickly spread, cementing itself as an instantly recognizable metaphor for the nervous excitement, fear, or anticipation that makes one's insides feel as though they've taken flight.
Examples
- Before her big presentation, she always had butterflies in her stomach.
- He admitted to having butterflies in his stomach right before he proposed to his girlfriend.