as nervous as a witch
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Very nervous or restless.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The nerves often get clogged up, or choked up, both inside and outside: they get clogged up by humours settling on them, [...] and you become as nervous as a witch. Then again, the nervous fluid. what used to be called the animal spirits, or the marrow of the nerve, get thick and clogged; and all ob
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “as nervous as a witch” mean?
Very nervous or restless.
Is “as nervous as a witch” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.