Phrases to describe nervousness
- Sabreena Nazimudeen
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Need Help Describing Nervousness in Your Composition?
Sometimes in a story, a character might feel scared, shy, or worried—like before giving a speech, answering a tough question, or telling the truth. Instead of just saying “he was nervous,” you can use interesting phrases to show what the character feels in their body and mind. This makes your writing more exciting and real! In this post, you’ll find simple and powerful ways to describe nervousness that will help make your composition stand out.
Here are some evocative phrases you can use to describe nervousness in storytelling, ranging from subtle to intense:
Physical Reactions
Her hands trembled ever so slightly.
A cold sweat prickled at the back of his neck.
He felt a knot tighten in his stomach.
Her heartbeat pounded like a drum in her ears.
His throat went dry, as if all words had deserted him.
She fiddled with the hem of her sleeve, over and over.
His fingers tapped a jittery rhythm on the table.
She felt her knees weaken, as if they might give out.
Her mouth went dry, as if even her breath had turned to dust.
His legs bounced restlessly beneath the desk, unable to stay still.
She clenched her fists so tightly her nails left little crescents on her palms.
His vision blurred for a moment, as though the world had tilted.
A shiver ran down her spine, sharp and sudden.
His jaw tightened, and the muscle twitched just below his ear.
She hugged herself, trying to suppress the tremble in her arms.
Heat rose to his face, flushing his cheeks crimson.
She felt her pulse race in her wrists and temples.
He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to hide how tense he felt.
Facial / Behavioral Cues
A forced smile tugged at her lips.
He avoided eye contact, staring hard at the floor.
She kept glancing at the door, as if plotting an escape.
His laughter came out a beat too late, and a bit too loud.
Her voice quivered despite her best effort to sound steady.
Her eyes darted around the room, never settling on one thing.
He scratched the back of his hand, again and again.
She blinked too often, too fast, as if trying to hold something back.
He pressed his lips into a thin line, swallowing his words.
Her smile flickered, then vanished entirely.
He cleared his throat, then did it again, louder this time.
She tucked her hair behind her ear, then immediately did it again.
He shifted in his seat, unable to find a comfortable position.
Her fingers twisted the ring around her finger, over and over.
He glanced at his watch though he already knew the time.
Internal Experience
Doubt churned in his chest like a storm.
She felt like her mind was a whirlwind of what-ifs.
A thousand worst-case scenarios sprinted through her head.
The silence stretched, and every second felt like a lifetime.
Her confidence crumbled with each heartbeat.
Her thoughts buzzed like a swarm of bees, loud and directionless.
It felt like her chest was caving in, one slow breath at a time.
He couldn’t tell if it was fear or anger bubbling in his stomach—but it burned.
Her mind screamed at her to run, even as her feet stayed frozen.
Every word she wanted to say seemed to vanish just before it reached her lips.
A sickening feeling of regret curled low in his belly.
Her courage wavered, slipping through her fingers like sand.
It felt like something heavy had taken root in his lungs.
Her brain was shouting “calm down,” but her body didn’t listen.
He felt like an imposter wearing someone else’s skin.
Trial lesson
We cover a lot more in our classes. Try first trial lesson for only 36SGD
Composition Marking Service for Primary School Students in Singapore (Primary 1 to Primary 6)
Boost your child’s writing skills with our expert Composition Marking Service, tailored for Primary 1 to Primary 6 students in Singapore! Aligned with the latest MOE syllabus, our service offers:
✅ Detailed feedback based on official marking rubrics
✅ Clear guidance to improve structure, language, and creativity
✅ Support for all writing levels — from beginners to PSLE prep
Let your child write with confidence. Submit compositions anytime and receive professional feedback to help them shine! 🌟
Download our Comprehension Cloze with Model Compositions
Commenti