B2idiomhealthIELTS-friendly
butterflies in your stomach
USUK
a nervous, fluttering feeling before something important
Used with 'have' or 'get'. Describes light, often excited nervousness, not serious fear.
In context
I always get butterflies in my stomach before I speak in front of a crowd.
It's normal to get butterflies in your stomach while you wait for your IELTS results.
Common mistake
Incorrect: I had butterfly in my stomach.
Correct: I had butterflies in my stomach.
More idioms about health
- a clean bill of healtha doctor's statement, after an examination, that someone is healthy
- back on your feethealthy and active again after an illness or injury
- get on someone's nervesto annoy someone, especially by doing something again and again
- go under the knifeto have a medical operation
- out of shapenot physically fit, usually because you have not exercised for a long time