(used with a plural v.) informal (usually prec. bythe)
nervousness or fright; jitters; creeps
That horror movie gave me the willies
Word origin
[1895–1900, Amer.; orig. obscure; cf. -s3]This word is first recorded in the period 1895–1900. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Marxism, apothecaries' measure, backstage, cutback, frame of reference-s an ending marking nouns as plural (boys; wolves), occurring also on nouns that have no singular (dregs; entrails; pants; scissors), or on nouns that have a singular with a different meaning (clothes; glasses; manners; thanks). The pluralizing value of -s is weakened or lost in a number of nouns that now often take singular agreement,as the names of games (billiards; checkers; tiddlywinks) and of diseases (measles; mumps; pox; rickets); the latter use has been extended to create informal names for a variety of involuntaryconditions, physical or mental (collywobbles; giggles; hots; willies). A parallel set of formations, where -s has no plural value, are adjectives denoting socially unacceptable or inconvenientstates (bananas; bonkers; crackers; nuts; preggers; starkers)
More idioms containing
willies
give you the willies
All related terms of 'willies'
willie
a masculine name
willy
A boy's or man's willy is his penis .
the willies
nervousness, jitters, or fright (esp in the phrase give ( or get ) the willies )
give sb the willies
If someone or something gives you the willies , they make you feel nervous or frightened .
give you the willies
to make you feel very nervous or frightened
willy-willy
a duststorm
sticky willie
a Eurasian rubiaceous plant, Galium aparine, having small white flowers and prickly stems and fruits
cleavers
a Eurasian rubiaceous plant, Galium aparine, having small white flowers and prickly stems and fruits
hairif
a Eurasian rubiaceous plant, Galium aparine, having small white flowers and prickly stems and fruits