Standard Lemma guide

heebie-jeebies

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˌhiː.biːˈdʒiː.biːz/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, informal, plural, plural-only

Examples

  • I don't mind worms, but spiders give me the heebie-jeebies.
  • When I see that weird house, I get the heebie-jeebies.
  • P.U., that outhouse gives me the heebie-jeebies!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

extreme nervousness

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: jitters, screaming meemies

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: nervousness, nerves

History

Etymology

The earliest found occurrences of spelling variants (it is not established whether the first one coined the term or committed to print an earlier oral expression): * In 1923, the spelling "heeby jeebys" was used by U.S. cartoonist Billy De Beck in his comic strip Barney Google (New York American, 26 October 1923). * In 1925, the spelling "heebee-jeebees" was used in U.S. magazine Ladies' Home Journal (Vol. 42, Part 2, p. 44). * In 1926, the spelling "heebie jeebies" was used by U.S. singer Louis Armstrong for his single "Heebie Jeebies" (written by Boyd Atkins). * In 1928, the spelling "heebee-geebees" was used in U.S. article "We All Have the Heebee-Geebees" by G. M. Keller of Swift & Company (Modern School Store, Vol. 11, p. 269 via Google Books). * In 1956, the spelling "heeby jeebies" was used by U.S. singer Little Richard on the cover of his homonymous SP record (and the hyphenated spelling "heeby-jeebies" on its vinyl disc itself).

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Angstzustände — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • German: Gänsehaut — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • Hungarian: frász — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • Hungarian: ijedtség — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • Hungarian: ijedség — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • Hungarian: ijedelem — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • Hungarian: rémület — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • Hungarian: félelem — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • Hungarian: szorongás — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • Hungarian: libabőr — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • Hungarian: borzongás — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • Hungarian: hidegrázás — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • Hungarian: borsódzik a háta (tőle) — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • Polish: ciarki — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • Spanish: yuyu — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea
  • Spanish: canguelo — a general feeling of anxiety, fear, uneasiness, or nausea