dithery

The child's hand was dithery as she held the ice cream cone.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Nervous and indecisive: "dithery" describes a state of being unable to decide or act calmly, often due to anxiety or agitation.
   • Shaky or trembling: In informal use, "dithery" can refer to physical trembling or unsteadiness, as from nervousness or cold.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • She felt dithery before the job interview, unable to choose what to wear. (Nervous and indecisive about a decision.)
  • His hands were dithery as he tried to light the candle in the wind. (Physically trembling or unsteady.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be in a dithery state": to be in a condition of nervous agitation.

  • The unexpected news left her in a dithery state all afternoon. (She was anxious and unable to focus.)

• "dithery with excitement": so excited that one becomes jittery or indecisive.

  • The children were dithery with excitement before the party. (Their excitement made them restless and unable to settle.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dither (verb): to be indecisive or act nervously.

  • Stop dithering and make a choice! (Stop hesitating nervously.)

• Dither (noun): a state of agitation or indecision.

  • He was in a dither over which gift to buy. (He was in a confused, anxious state.)

• Dithery (adjective form): as defined above.

Synonyms

• Jittery: nervous and unable to relax.
• Fidgety: making small, restless movements due to nervousness.
• Wobbly: unsteady, either physically or emotionally.

Related Idioms

• All of a dither: in a state of nervous confusion or excitement.

  • She was all of a dither when the phone rang with the news. (She was very agitated and flustered.)

• In a flutter: in a state of nervous excitement.

  • The guests were in a flutter before the ceremony. (They were anxious and bustling about.)