nervous Nellie

See also: nervous nellie, nervous-nellie, Nervous-Nellie, Nervous Nellie, and nervous-Nellie

English

Alternative forms

• nervous nellie, Nervous Nellie, nervous nelly, nervous Nelly, Nervous Nelly

Noun

nervous Nellie (plural nervous Nellies)

1. (informal) A person whose personality and behavior are characterized by worry, insecurity, and timidity.
   • 1925 Jan. 19, "Gentlemen Asleep," Time:

     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."

   • 1993 Nov. 22, Richard Zoglin, "Hill Street Blues on Happy Juice" (TV review of "Bakersfield P.D."), Time:

     The captain is a nervous Nellie who can't make a decision without the approval of his protective aide-de-camp.

Related terms

• nervous-Nellie (adjective)

See also

• Alibi Ike, Dapper Dan, doubting Thomas, Gentleman Jim, gloomy Gus, good-time Charlie, plain Jane, Silent Sam

Further reading

• “nervous Nellie”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.