Meaning of collywobbles | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A stomach ache or an upset stomach.
   British, humorous, informal, plural, plural-only
2. Anxiety, fear, uneasiness.
   British, broadly, humorous, informal, plural, plural-only

Equivalents

Examples

“Petunia’s off school today with a touch⟳ of the collywobbles.”

“Collywobbles, the gripes.”

“I know⟳ I have⟳ something else to say⟳ to you, but unfortunately I awoke this morning with collywobbles, and had to take⟳ a small dose of laudanum with the usual consequences of dry throat, intoxicated legs, partial madness and total imbecility; and for the life of me I cannot remember⟳ what it is.”

“"I deeply regret⟳," answered Liza, "but my royal 'ighness 'as got the collywobbles."”

“The prefect was there again and it was his voice that was saying that he was to get⟳ up, that Father Minister had said he was to get⟳ up and dress and go to the infirmary. And while he was dressing himself as quickly as he could the prefect said: / ― We must pack⟳ off to Brother Michael because we have⟳ the collywobbles!”

“"D'ye hear⟳, Richard? Now's your chance," repeated Ned, not to be done. "There's a pot o' money in it. A very different thing this, I can tell⟳ you, from running round dosing people for the collywobbles. I know⟳ men who are raising the splosh to get⟳ in, any way they can."”

“I don’t like⟳ walking through the forest at night. It gives me the collywobbles.”

“This business of getting Bill educated has just about given me the collywobbles. You wouldn't think⟳ to look⟳ at the boy, that he could possibly be such a tragic misfit in school.”

CEFR level