Anticipation: English Vocabulary List

a state characterized by great excitement or agitation

"The crowd reached fever pitch."

"The anticipation for the championship game had reached fever pitch among the devoted fans."

to make someone extremely excited

"The race got my heart racing fast."

"The thrilling roller coaster ride set my heart racing from start to finish."

in a way one desires without being concerned about the future

"They partied like there was no tomorrow."

"The students celebrated their graduation by dancing and singing as if there was no time tomorrow."

to demonstrate signs of anxiousness, anger, or frustration in difficult situations

"I pulled my hair out yesterday."

"I was tearing my hair out trying to finish the project before the deadline."

in a very nervous or excited state because of something that is going to happen

"I have been on pins and needles all day."

"The anxious mother was on pins and needles while waiting for her son surgery results."

used to describe someone who is in a very agitated state of mind

"He was like a cat on a hot tin roof."

"The nervous speaker paced the stage like a cat on a hot tin roof before his speech."

to be really excited or nervous about what is going to happen

"I get butterflies in my stomach before a test."

"Before her big speech she had butterflies in her stomach and her hands were shaking nervously."

an intense feeling of suspense, fear, or nervousness

"My heart was in my mouth."

"With my heart in my mouth, I stepped onto the stage to give my speech."

a sense of anxiety or urgency, because there is a lot that one must do quickly

"It was panic stations."

"With the deadline looming, it was panic stations in the office as everyone rushed to complete their tasks."

to have a hard time staying calm due to being extremely nervous or excited about something

"The kids had ants in pants."

"My little brother had ants in his pants all morning because he was so excited about going to the amusement park with his friends."

to have a tendency to become worried over something that has not yet happened

"Don't meet trouble halfway, relax."

"She always meets trouble halfway instead of waiting to see what actually happens."

to become extremely angry, agitated, or uncontrollably violent, typically in a workplace

"He went postal at the office."

"After months of stress, he finally went postal and shouted at his boss."

used to describe someone who is extremely confused and excited

"He ran around like a chicken with its head cut off."

"After losing his keys he ran around like a chicken with its head cut off searching everywhere frantically."

a sudden physical reaction to a strong emotional experience, such as fear, excitement, or awe, typically characterized by a cold or trembling sensation running down the back

"A chill ran down my spine."

"The ghost story sent a shiver down my spine during the campfire."

to experience a breakdown or failure due to overwhelming stress or pressure

"She fell apart at the seams."

"After losing his job, he began to fall apart at the seams emotionally."

in a very troubled or nervous state

"She got in a stew over the broken vase."

"She was in a stew about her upcoming exam, worrying she hadn't studied enough to pass."

to be really stressed, angry, or upset about something that has happened or is going to happen

"Mom will have a cow if she sees this."

"My mother is going to have a cow when she finds out that I accidentally broke her favorite vase yesterday."

having a strong and urgent desire to do something

"She is hot to trot."

"The team is hot to trot to win the championship this year."