How do you use "Butterflies in your stomach" in a sentence?

I've got butterflies in my stomach before the interview. Still get butterflies whenever I see her. The butterflies won't stop—I'm so nervous.

Butterflies in your stomach

Q: What does "Butterflies in your stomach" mean?

Nervous feeling; anxious excitement. The fluttering sensation of nervousness—like butterflies moving in your stomach. Can be negative (anxiety) or positive (excited anticipation). The phrase perfectly captures the physical sensation of nervousness.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Nervous feeling; anxious excitement.

紧张感，焦虑的兴奋。

Nerviosismo; emoción ansiosa.

緊張感、不安な興奮。

긴장감; 설레는 불안감.

The fluttering sensation of nervousness—like butterflies moving in your stomach. Can be negative (anxiety) or positive (excited anticipation). The phrase perfectly captures the physical sensation of nervousness.

紧张时心跳加速的感觉——就像胃里有蝴蝶在飞。可以是负面的（焦虑）或正面的（兴奋的期待）。这个表达完美地捕捉了紧张的身体感觉。

La sensación de aleteo del nerviosismo—como mariposas moviéndose en el estómago. Puede ser negativo (ansiedad) o positivo (anticipación emocionada). La frase captura perfectamente la sensación física del nerviosismo.

緊張のドキドキする感覚——お腹の中で蝶が動いているような感じ。ネガティブ（不安）にもポジティブ（ワクワクした期待）にもなります。この表現は緊張の身体的感覚を完璧に捉えています。

긴장할 때 나비가 뱃속에서 날아다니는 듯한 느낌을 표현한 것이다. 부정적(불안)일 수도 있고 긍정적(설레는 기대감)일 수도 있다. 긴장의 신체적 감각을 완벽하게 포착한 표현이다.

Examples

I've got butterflies in my stomach before the interview.
面试前我紧张得心跳加速
Tengo mariposas en el estómago antes de la entrevista
面接前でお腹がドキドキする
면접 전에 속이 두근두근해.
Still get butterflies whenever I see her.
每次见到她我还是会紧张
Todavía me pongo nervioso cuando la veo
彼女を見るといまだにドキドキする
그녀를 볼 때마다 아직도 두근거려.
The butterflies won't stop—I'm so nervous.
紧张感停不下来——我太紧张了
Las mariposas no paran—estoy muy nervioso
ドキドキが止まらない——すごく緊張してる
두근거림이 멈추지 않아——너무 긴장돼.

Pronunciation

/ˈbʌtəflaɪz ɪn jɔːr ˈstʌmək/

Usage Guide

Context: nervousness, anticipation, excitement

Tone: descriptive, sympathetic

✓ Do Say

Butterflies in my stomach
紧张得胃里翻腾
Mariposas en el estómago
お腹がドキドキする
속이 울렁거리다
Got butterflies
心里忐忑
Tengo mariposas
緊張している
긴장되다

Common Mistakes

Can be positive or negative depending on context

Origin & History

The phrase dates from early 20th century, though the sensation has always existed. The metaphor perfectly captures the fluttering, unsettled feeling in the gut when nervous or excited.

Etymology: Metaphor: fluttering sensation = butterflies moving

First recorded: Early 20th century

Cultural Context

Era: 20th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Universal expression

Regional notes: English-language universal.

Variations

Butterflies in your stomachGot butterfliesButterflies