screaming-meemies
LowInformal, Humorous, Dated
Definition
Meaning
A state of extreme nervousness, anxiety, or hysteria; a fit of panic or fright.
A colloquial term for a state of intense nervous agitation, often characterized by irrational fear or panic. Can also refer to a person experiencing such a state.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a plural noun (the screaming-meemies). The term is highly idiomatic and evocative, suggesting a loss of emotional control. It often carries a slightly humorous or hyperbolic tone, even when describing genuine distress.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is of American origin and remains far more common in American English. In British English, it is recognized but rarely used spontaneously; it may be perceived as an Americanism.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes a cartoonish, almost slapstick level of panic. In American usage, it may have a slight nostalgic or mid-20th-century feel.
Frequency
Very low frequency in British English; low and declining frequency in American English, mostly found in older media or deliberate stylistic choices.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] has/got the screaming-meemies.[Event] gave [Indirect Object] the screaming-meemies.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(to have) the screaming abdabs (UK equivalent)”
- “to give someone the heebie-jeebies”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used. Would be highly inappropriate in formal reports or meetings.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Possible in casual conversation for humorous exaggeration, e.g., 'This traffic is giving me the screaming-meemies.'
Technical
Not used in any technical field.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The constant drilling is enough to make one start screaming-meemiesing. (Extremely rare, non-standard)
American English
- She was so stressed she just screamed-meemies for a full minute. (Rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- He had a screaming-meemies look in his eyes. (Rare)
American English
- It was a screaming-meemies kind of day, with everything going wrong.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Watching that horror film gave me the screaming-meemies.
- The stock market volatility is enough to give any investor the screaming-meemies.
- After the third all-nighter in a row, plagued by caffeine jitters and the looming deadline, she was fighting off a full-blown case of the screaming-meemies.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person SCREAMING 'MEE! MEE!' while running in circles during a panic attack. The silly, repetitive sound 'meemies' mimics the irrational, looping thoughts of anxiety.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANXIETY IS A PHYSICAL AGGRESSOR/PREDATOR (It 'gives' you something, you 'have' an attack of it).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'кричащие мими'.
- Avoid associating with 'мим' (mime).
- The closest conceptual equivalent is 'истерика' or 'паника', but it lacks the specific informal, slightly humorous tone.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a singular noun (e.g., 'a screaming-meemie').
- Using it in formal writing.
- Misspelling as 'screaming-memies' or 'screaming meamies'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'screaming-meemies' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a colloquial, often humorous term for temporary, exaggerated nervousness. It should not be used to describe clinical anxiety disorders.
Yes, informally. e.g., 'Don't mind him, he's a total screaming-meemies today.' It means the person is in a highly agitated state.
It is of US origin (early 20th century), likely a fanciful, reduplicative formation from 'screaming' meant to imitate the sound of hysterical crying or panic.
No, the term is almost exclusively used in the plural form 'the screaming-meemies'.