heebie-jeebies: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Yes, it is informal colloquial language, often categorized as slang or lighthearted idiom. It is not suitable for formal writing.

No, it is almost exclusively used in the plural form ('the heebie-jeebies'). Using it as a singular noun ('a heebie-jeebie') is non-standard and would sound very odd to a native speaker.

The term is first recorded in the 1920s and is widely attributed to the American cartoonist Billy DeBeck. Its exact origin is unclear, but it's a classic example of reduplication used to create a whimsical, onomatopoeic-sounding word for a nervous state.

'Anxiety' is a broad, standard term for a psychological state of worry and apprehension, suitable for all registers. 'Heebie-jeebies' is a much lighter, more specific, and informal term for a temporary feeling of nervous unease, often caused by something creepy or irrational. It downplays the seriousness.

A feeling of nervousness, anxiety, uneasiness, or discomfort, often with physical manifestations.

Heebie-jeebies is usually informal, colloquial in register.

Heebie-jeebies: in British English it is pronounced ˈhiːbi ˈdʒiːbiz, and in American English it is pronounced ˈhibi ˈdʒibiz. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.