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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Have butterflies in your stomach

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

Feel very nervous, often before something important.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. I had butterflies in my stomach before my first driving lesson.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

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Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

Feel very nervous, often before something important.
Show the answer

Have butterflies in your stomach — Feel very nervous, often before something important.

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Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Have butterflies in your stomach” about your own life.

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Does your sentence match this meaning?

Feel very nervous, often before something important.

Compare: I had butterflies in my stomach before my first driving lesson.

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More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use this conversational expression about the fluttering nervous feeling before an interview, performance or other anticipated event. It can occur even when you look forward to the event.

More examples in context

  • Even experienced speakers can have butterflies in their stomachs before a big presentation.
  • She gets butterflies in her stomach whenever the audition date approaches.

Usage note

Change the possessive: “in my stomach” or “in her stomach”. “Have butterflies” is a shorter form when the meaning is clear. It describes nervousness, rather than literal insects.

A short conversation

A: Are you ready to give your speech?
B: I am, but I have butterflies in my stomach.
A: Take a slow breath. You know your opening well.

One more practice question

What is someone describing when they say they have butterflies in their stomach before an interview?

A. A complete lack of nerves.
B. A nervous feeling.

Check your answer

B. The phrase describes the unsettled feeling associated with nervousness.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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