the collywobbles

the collywobbles
Meaning
A state of nervousness, usually accompanied by a rumbling stomach.
Origin
This may not be related but colly is an English dialect word meaning coal dust. Blackbirds were hence known as colly birds. The song 'Twelve days of Christmas' is usually sung as ... my true love sent to me, four calling birds... but the actual line is 'four colly birds'.

Meaning and origin of phrases. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • collywobbles — col|ly|wob|bles [ˈkɔliˌwɔbəlz US ˈka:liˌwa: ] n the collywobbles BrE informal an uncomfortable feeling that you get when you are very nervous …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • collywobbles — noun the collywobbles BrE informal an uncomfortable feeling that you get when you are very nervous …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • collywobbles — [käl′ē wäb΄əlz] pl.n. [prob. < COLIC + WOBBLE] Informal pain in the abdomen; bellyache: usually with the …   English World dictionary

  • collywobbles — noun plural but singular or plural in construction Etymology: perhaps by folk etymology from New Latin cholera morbus, literally, the disease cholera Date: circa 1823 bellyache …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • collywobbles — Noun. A feeling of nervousness or discomfort in the stomach. Informal …   English slang and colloquialisms

  • collywobbles —  1. Pain in the stomach.  2. Feelings of apprehension …   A concise dictionary of English slang

  • collywobbles — n.pl. colloq. 1 a rumbling or pain in the stomach. 2 a feeling of strong apprehension. Etymology: fanciful, f. COLIC + WOBBLE …   Useful english dictionary

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  • Colliwobbles — The Colliwobbles is a term used in the Australian Football League to describe finals losses by the Collingwood Football Club. Most specifically, the Colliwobbles refers to the period of time between Collingwood s 1958 and 1990 premierships.… …   Wikipedia

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