have butterflies in one's stomach

verb

To experience a certain “fluttery” physical sensation in one's stomach, associated with nervousness, uncertainty, anxiety, apprehension, or excitement.

“Kevin had butterflies in his stomach every time he saw Chrissy.”

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Meanings

verbhave butterflies in one's stomach (third-person singular simple present has butterflies in one's stomach, present participle having butterflies in one's stomach, simple past and past participle had butterflies in one's stomach)

present singular third person has butterflies in one's stomach · participle present having butterflies in one's stomach · participle past had butterflies in one's stomach · past had butterflies in one's stomach

  1. intransitiveTo experience a certain “fluttery” physical sensation in one's stomach, associated with nervousness, uncertainty, anxiety, apprehension, or excitement.

    Kevin had butterflies in his stomach every time he saw Chrissy.

Translations

Catalan tenir papallones a la panxa
  • tenir papallones a la panxaTranslations
Chinese Mandarin 忐忑不安, 七上八下
  • 忐忑不安 (tǎntèbù'ān)Translations
  • 七上八下 (qīshàngbāxià)Translations
  • 小鹿亂撞 /小鹿乱撞 (lovestruck)Translations
Danish have sommerfugle i maven
  • have sommerfugle i mavenTranslations
Dutch vlinders in de buik hebben
  • vlinders in de buik hebbenTranslations
Finnish olla perhosia vatsassa
  • olla perhosia vatsassaTranslations
French avoir des papillons dans le ventre
  • avoir des papillons dans le ventreTranslations
German Schmetterlinge im Bauch haben, Hummeln im Hintern haben
  • Schmetterlinge im Bauch habenTranslations
  • Hummeln im Hintern habenTranslations
Hebrew פרפרים בבטן
  • פרפרים בבטןTranslations
Hungarian a torkában dobog a szíve, ideges
  • a torkában dobog a szíveTranslations
  • idegesTranslations
  • izgulTranslations
  • aggódikTranslations
Italian avere le farfalle nello stomaco
  • avere le farfalle nello stomacoTranslations
Japanese 胃がきりきりする
  • 胃がきりきりする (i ga kiri-kiri suru)Translations
Māori puku āmaimai
  • puku āmaimaiTranslations
Norwegian ha sommerfugler i magen
  • ha sommerfugler i magenTranslations
Polish mieć motylki w brzuchu
  • mieć motylki w brzuchuTranslations
Portuguese ter frio na barriga, estar com frio na barriga
  • ter frio na barrigaTranslations
  • estar com frio na barrigaTranslations
Russian име́ть мандра́ж
  • име́ть мандра́ж (imétʹ mandráž)Translations
Spanish tener mariposas en el estómago
  • tener mariposas en el estómagoTranslations
Swedish ha fjärilar i magen
  • ha fjärilar i magenTranslations
Tagalog kilig
  • kiligTranslations
Turkish diken üstünde oturmak
  • diken üstünde oturmakTranslations
Ukrainian відчувати хвилювання
  • відчувати хвилювання (vidčuvaty xvyljuvannja)Translations
Cite this entry
APA

have butterflies in one's stomach. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20butterflies%20in%20one's%20stomach

MLA

“have butterflies in one's stomach.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20butterflies%20in%20one's%20stomach. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “have butterflies in one's stomach,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20butterflies%20in%20one's%20stomach.

Source: have butterflies in one's stomach on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.