Heebie-jeebies - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

SKIP TO CONTENT heebie-jeebies /ˌhibi ˌdʒibiz/ IPA guide

If you have the heebie-jeebies, you're worried, anxious, or jumpy. Haunted houses, for example, give many people the heebie-jeebies, while others get the heebie-jeebies from circus clowns.

If something gives you the heebie-jeebies, it makes you very nervous. The word is especially useful when something — or someone — gives you the creeps, but you can't put your finger on exactly what it is that makes you so jittery. Heebie-jeebies first appeared in print in the U.S., originally in a 1923 "Barney Google" cartoon by Billy DeBeck, who is also credited with inventing the word horsefeathers, which means "nonsense."

Definitions of heebie-jeebies
  1. noun extreme nervousness synonyms: jitters, screaming meemies see moresee less type of: nerves, nervousness an uneasy psychological state
Cite this entry Style: MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago
Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘heebie-jeebies'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Commonly confused words

How Did We Get the "Heebie-Jeebies"?

It turns out we can pin down not just the coiner of the heebie-jeebies, but the very day the word was coined.

Continue reading...

Word Family 2 million people are mastering new words. Master a word

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.

Get started Learn with us
  • Learner subscriptions
  • Vocabulary lists
  • Dictionary
  • Test Prep
  • Join a Vocabulary Jam
  • Commonly confused words
  • Word of the day
Teach with us
  • For educators
  • For schools and districts
  • How it works
  • Success stories
  • Research
  • Professional development
  • Contact sales
Resources
  • Help articles/FAQ
  • Teaching resources
  • Learner resources
  • ESL/ELL resources
  • Grade level resources
  • IPA Pronunciation
  • Contact support
Leaderboards
  • Vocabulary Bowl
  • Today's leaders
  • Weekly leaders
  • Monthly leaders
About
  • Our Mission
  • Blog
  • Tell us what you think
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
My Account Log in Sign up
    My Account
  • Log Out
  • My Learning
  • My Proficiency Report
  • My Profile
  • Schools & Teachers
  • My Classes
  • Assignments & Activities
  • My Lists
    • Find a List to Learn...
    • Create a New List...
  • My Progress
    • Words I'm Learning
    • My Trouble Words
    • Words I've Mastered
    • My Achievements
  • User Administration
  • User Authentication
  • My Account
IXL Learning

Comprehensive K-12 personalized learning

Rosetta Stone

Immersive learning for 25 languages

Wyzant

Trusted tutors ready to help in 300+ subjects

Education.com

35,000 worksheets, games, and lesson plans

TPT

Marketplace for millions of educator-created resources

ABCya

Fun educational games for kids

SpanishDictionary.com

Spanish-English dictionary, translator, and learning

Inglés.com

Diccionario inglés-español, traductor y sitio de aprendizaje

Emmersion

Fast and accurate language certification

FrenchDictionary.com

French-English dictionary, translator, and learning

vocabulary.com logo Copyright © 2025 Vocabulary.com, Inc. A division of IXL Learning All Rights Reserved. IXL logo Facebook logo X.com logo Instagram logo LinkedIn logo

Tag » What Are The Heebie Jeebies