Definition

1. Noun (plural):
   • A feeling of nervousness, unease, or fear: An informal term for a state of mild anxiety or creepiness, often caused by something unsettling or eerie.

Usage

• The word "willies" is almost always used in the phrase "to give someone the willies" or "to get/have the willies". It describes a subjective, often physical sensation of discomfort.
• It is a colloquial term, common in American English.

Examples

• (That old, empty house makes me feel nervous and uneasy.)
• (I felt a creeping sense of fear walking through the dark forest alone.)
• (His silent stare was making her feel very uncomfortable and creeped out.)

Advanced Usage

• "The heebie-jeebies": This is a very close synonym and can often be used interchangeably with "the willies" (e.g., ).
• The feeling is often associated with things that are uncanny, strangely quiet, or suggest a hidden threat.

Variants and Related Words

• Creeps (noun, plural): A very similar informal term (e.g., ).
• Jitters (noun, plural): Refers more to general nervousness or anxiety, often before an event, rather than a creepy feeling.

Synonyms

• Creeps: A feeling of fear and revulsion.
• Heebie-jeebies: A state of nervous fear or anxiety.
• Goosebumps: While this refers to the physical reaction, it is often caused by the same feelings that give someone "the willies".

Idioms and Common Phrases

• To give someone the willies: To cause someone to feel nervous, scared, or uneasy.
  • The way that doll's eyes follow you around the room gives me the willies.
• To get/have the willies: To experience feelings of nervousness or fear.
  • I always get the willies when I have to go down into the basement at night.

Noun

1. feelings of uneasiness
   • that guy gave me the willies