stage fever
Definition
- Noun:
- Intense desire to perform: "stage fever" refers to an overwhelming passion or eagerness to act on stage or to work in the theatre, often to the point of obsession or distraction from other pursuits.
Usage Examples
- (Her intense desire to perform on stage caused her to leave her regular employment.)
- (They are consumed by a longing to be on stage.)
Advanced Usage
- "to catch stage fever": to develop a sudden and strong enthusiasm for theatrical performance.
- After watching her first Broadway show, she caught stage fever and started taking acting lessons. (She became intensely interested in performing on stage.)
Variants and Related Words
- Stage-struck (adj): deeply and often excessively fascinated by the theatre and acting.
- He is so stage-struck that he spends all his free time reading plays and watching performances. (He is obsessed with the theatre.)
Synonyms
- Theatre mania: an extreme or abnormal enthusiasm for the theatre.
- Footlight fever: a less common term for a strong desire to perform on stage.
- Stage fright (antonym): nervousness before or during a performance, the opposite of the confident desire implied by "stage fever."
Related Idioms
- To have the acting bug: to have a strong, often irresistible urge to become an actor.
- Once she got the acting bug, there was no stopping her from pursuing a career on stage. (She developed a deep passion for acting.)
Note on Usage
- "Stage fever" is often used to describe an amateur or aspirational passion, rather than a professional's calculated career ambition. It carries a slightly romantic or naive connotation, suggesting a love for the glamour of the stage rather than its hard work.