Meanings
- humorousmildlyoftenset phraseA group of agitated people—such as a set of residents, customers, or citizens—is expressing annoyance, distress, or other discomposure.
Gateway has plenty of company in having to deal with frustrated, sometimes irate, customers. […] The natives are restless. Few vendors are spared.
1997 December 29, David C. Churbuck, “Help! My PC won't work!”, in Forbes, retrieved 28 May 20152 more examples
This election year, the natives are restless, the senior campaigners say. Long Island voters are angry about high taxes, affordable housing and drugs.
1989 October 29, Diane Ketcham, “About Long Island: Warhorses On The Campaign Trail”, in New York Times, retrieved 28 May 2015The natives are restless. Americans of all persuasions at last agree on something. It is a message to their leaders that starts with F and ends with u.
2010 May 20, David Von Drehle, “The Pitchfork Primaries: Will Washington Get the Message?”, in Time, retrieved 28 May 2015
Origin
Originally a literal description of rebellious aboriginal inhabitants of British colonies, as in: :* New Zealand Parliamentary Debates: Third Session of the Fourth Parliament, Vol. 2, 1868, page 387 ::: As to the Native question, […] The Natives are restless, and seem desirous of fighting.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
the natives are restless. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20natives%20are%20restless
“the natives are restless.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20natives%20are%20restless. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “the natives are restless,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/the%20natives%20are%20restless.
Source: the natives are restless on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.