Green around the gills

Meaning

The idiom "green around the gills" means to be extremely anxious, nervous, or worried about something. The phrase originally refers to a boat that is rocking violently due to rough seas, which can make its occupants feel ill and anxious.

Usage

• "I was so nervous about my interview that I felt like I was green around the gills."
• "After finding out he had lied to her, she was green around the gills with anger."
• "The young children were green around the gills with excitement at the prospect of going on a roller coaster ride."
• "I was so worried about my flight delay that I felt like I was green around the gills."
• "He was green around the gills with worry when he heard the news that his sister had been in an accident."

Roots and History

The idiom dates back to the 16th century and is thought to have originated from the nautical term "gill," which refers to the respiratory organ of fish. In old English, the phrase "gilla" meant "to be afraid," and this evolved into "green around the gills" in modern times. The idiom was first used in William Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night" in 1604.

Synonyms in English

• Nervous
• Anxious
• Worried
• Jittery
• On edge

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "Nervioso/a" (nervous)
• French: "Anxiété" (anxiety)
• German: "Angst" (fear)
• Italian: "Ansia" (anxiety)
• Russian: "Растройка" (agitation)

Similar Idioms

• give hell

• go with the flow

• grit one’s teeth