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nervous Nellie

noun

Definitions

  1. A person whose personality and behavior are characterized by worry, insecurity, and…

    A person whose personality and behavior are characterized by worry, insecurity, and timidity.

    • Political opponents doubted his capacity, referred to him as "too nervous, too worried a little man," and remarked that his Senatorial colleagues used to refer to him humorously as "Nervous Nellie."
    • The captain is a nervous Nellie who can't make a decision without the approval of his protective aide-de-camp.

  2. Alternative spelling of nervous Nellie.

The neighborhood

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sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA