to have butterflies in one’s stomach 非常紧张
当你对某件事感到既兴奋又紧张的时候，或许是心仪的对象正朝你走来，内心小鹿乱撞的感觉，也可能是准备很久的歌唱表演，轮到你上台前那种既期待又害怕的矛盾感，都可以用have/ get butterflies in my stomach形容。
It will be my turn getting on stage in five minutes. I’ve got butterflies in my stomach!
再过五分钟就轮我上台了，快紧张死啦！
to have ants in one’s pants 坐立不安
蚂蚁在裤子里？你没看错！字面上解释的确令人匪夷所思，但试想一下如果有一堆蚂蚁在你裤子你爬来爬去，你一定会站也不是坐也不是，恨不得又甩又扭把他们赶走，这个片语可以非常生动表达那种坐立不安、耐不住性子的感觉，与中文「急得像热锅上的蚂蚁」有异曲同工之妙。
The team report isn’t due until next Friday; however, Sam has ants in his pants and asks all team members to have it ready this Sunday morning.
团体报告的缴交期限下周五，但Sam急得像热锅上的蚂蚁，要所有组员在这礼拜天早上完成报告。
to be on pins and needles 如坐针毡
pin当名词使用是「别针、大头针」的意思，而needle是缝衣服的「逢针」，两个都是细细的、头很尖锐，当一个人坐在很多针上面，一定会感到麻麻地刺痛难受，所以“be on/ get pins and needles”就衍伸为「如坐针毡」般紧张、害怕。
The driver’s wife rushed to the hospital and got pins and needles waiting outside the emergency room.
那位驾驶的太太赶到医院，而且在加护病房外忐忑不安地等待。
to be on the edge 对…感到很紧张
edge解释为「边缘」，就像是一个被逼到边缘的人一样，相信你一定连呼吸都不赶太用力，所以be on the edge其实就是be extremely nervous的意思。
The threat of war has long been keeping us on the edge as we lived in fear.
战争的威胁使我们长年处于紧绷状态，生活在恐惧之中。
to shake like a leaf 吓得要命
当你因为恐惧吓得浑身发抖、腿软，或是紧张地直打颤，就像一阵风吹过，树叶震动的样子，使用上通常以现在进行式shaking like a leaf表现，更能表示害怕或紧张的持续性。
While she gave a speech before a big crowd, she was shaking like a leaf.
每当她在一群人面前发言，她就会紧张得浑身发抖。
to break out in a cold sweat 吓出一身冷汗
Because Mary witnessed the tragic accident, she not only broke out in a cold sweat at the spot but has been haunted by the terrible sight since then.
Mary因为目睹了那场悲剧意外的发生，她不仅当下吓出一身冷汗，那可怕的一幕还从此挥之不去。
to give Sb the creeps 令人毛骨悚然
要注意creep是可数名词，the creeps是指令人毛骨悚然的事物，或是起鸡皮疙瘩(goose bumps)的感觉，你也可以说“make one’s hair stand on end”，解释为「寒毛直竖」非常贴切。
Horror films always give me the creeps.
恐怖片总令我毛骨悚然。
害怕相关英文单字：
● stage fright 舞台恐惧症
● social phobia 社交恐惧症
● acrophobia 惧高症
● anxiety 焦虑
● sweaty hands 冒汗的手
● trembling lips 颤抖的双唇
