nervous Nellie

nervous Nellie
or nervous Nelly noun (plural nervous Nellies) Usage: often capitalized 1st N Etymology: from the name Nellie Date: 1926 a timid or worrisome person

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • nervous nellie — Someone excessively worried or apprehensive is a nervous Nellie (or Nelly) …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • nervous Nellie — ☆ nervous Nellie n. [orig. used of high strung racehorses: in ref. to old Nell, jocular name for a nag] Slang a timid person who is easily upset and is hesitant to act …   English World dictionary

  • nervous nellie — ˈnelē, li noun Usage: usually capitalized 2d N Etymology: nervous + Nellie, diminutive of Ellen, Eleanor, or Helen : a timid or ineffectual person the nervous Nellies, who always come into a bull market too late, pushed prices too high Burton… …   Useful english dictionary

  • nervous Nellie — noun A person whose personality and usual 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… …   Wiktionary

  • nervous Nellie — n. any nervous person, male or female. □ Sue is such a nervous Nellie. She should calm down. □ Relax! Don’t be such a nervous Nellie …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • nervous-Nellie — adjective Characterized by worry or anxiety; having a weak, insecure personality. Woody Allen plays his most frazzled variation on the Woody we know best: a nervous Nellie urban neurotic kvetching his way through life as a means of avoiding it.… …   Wiktionary

  • Nervous Nellie — An investor who isn t comfortable with investing and the risks associated with it. Nervous Nellies have very little risk tolerance. As a result, their investment returns are likely to suffer because they will only invest in very low risk, low… …   Investment dictionary

  • nervous Nellie — a timid person who lacks determination and courage He is a nervous Nellie and is afraid of most of the other students in the school …   Idioms and examples

  • Nervous Nellie — {n.}, {informal} A timid person who lacks determination and courage. * /I say we will never win if we don t stop being Nervous Nellies!/ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Nervous Nellie — {n.}, {informal} A timid person who lacks determination and courage. * /I say we will never win if we don t stop being Nervous Nellies!/ …   Dictionary of American idioms

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