Are you looking for another way to say that something gives you the creeps? You could say that it gives you the \u201cheebie jeebies.\u201d<\/p>\n
This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this phrase, and shows you how to use it \u2014 so keep reading for more info!<\/p>\n
The phrase \u201cheebie jeebies<\/strong>\u201d is also sometimes spelled with a hyphen: \u201cheebie-jeebies<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n When you say something gives you the heebie jeebies, you mean that it creeps you out, terrifies you, makes you feel uneasy, or induces anxiety<\/u>.<\/p>\n You can say that something gives you<\/em> the heebie jeebies, or that you get<\/em> the heebie jeebies from something.<\/p>\n Would you like to use the phrase \u201cheebie jeebies<\/strong>\u201d in a sentence? These examples illustrate how it\u2019s done:<\/p>\n Idioms and expressions typically use organically, and it is often difficult to pinpoint their exact origins.<\/p>\n The heebie jeebies are a notable exception. Cartoonist William (Billy) Morgan de Beck<\/strong> coined the phrase, which first appeared in a 1923<\/strong> cartoon published in the New York American<\/em>.<\/p>\n The original line was: \u201cYou dumb ox - why don't you get that stupid look offa your pan - you gimme the heeby jeebys<\/strong>!\u201d<\/p>\n The phrase emerged during a time when rhyming was very popular; the phrase \u201cthe bee\u2019s knees\u201d (meaning \u201cwonderful\u201d) was coined at around the same time.<\/p>\n The heebie jeebies caught on so quickly that the term sparked a popular dance called the heebie-jeebie in the 1920s. Even the marketers of the decade turned to the phrase \u201cheebie jeebies,\u201d which can also mean \u201cjitters,\u201d to sell medications.<\/p>\n The fact that entries defining \u201cheebie jeebies\u201d as jitters, fear, nervousness, and worry have appeared on Urban Dictionary<\/em> as recently as 2020<\/strong> shows that the phrase remains popular today, even with younger generations.<\/p>\n \u201cHeebie jeebies\u201d is a slang term, but a widely-recognized one. Although you should not use it in a formal context, the phrase \u201cheebie jeebies\u201d is unlikely to cause offense.<\/p>\n Are you looking for other ways to say that something scares you, worries you, or makes you feel uneasy? You could also use these phrases:<\/p>\n Something scares you or makes you feel uneasy if it gives you the heebie jeebies. You may be experiencing the opposite if:<\/p>\n The correct saying is \u201cheebie jeebies<\/strong>.\u201d This phrase means that something scares you, startles you, or makes you feel uneasy.<\/p>\n English learners should be aware that the well-known phrase \u201cheebie jeebies\u201d is considered a casual phrase<\/u> \u2014 not quite slang, but close to it.<\/p>\n You would be advised to use more precise language in formal settings. You could say that something scares you, induces anxiety, or makes you nervous instead.<\/p>\n You could say that something gives you the heebie jeebies, or you get the heebie jeebies from something, in a casual conversation with friends or acquaintances.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for an informal vibe, you can also use the phrase \u201cheebie jeebies\u201d in writing \u2014 advertisers have done so successfully in the past.<\/p>\n Spiders, clowns, bats, and abandoned houses are common examples of things that give people the heebie jeebies. People can also give you that feeling, but think twice before telling someone they give you the heebie jeebies.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Are you looking for another way to say that something gives you the creeps? You could say that it gives you the \u201cheebie jeebies.\u201d This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this phrase, and shows you how to use it \u2014 so keep reading for more info! Meaning The phrase \u201cheebie jeebies\u201d is also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10272"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10272"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10274,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10272\/revisions\/10274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Example Usage<\/h2>\n
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Origin<\/h2>\n
Phrases Similar to Heebie Jeebies<\/h2>\n
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Phrases Opposite to Heebie Jeebies<\/h2>\n
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What Is the Correct Saying?<\/h2>\n
Ways People May Say Heebie Jeebies Incorrectly<\/h2>\n
Acceptable Ways to Say Heebie Jeebies<\/h2>\n