Jitters are feelings of nervousness that make you shaky, jumpy, or unable to sit still. Before giving a speech in front of your class, you might get the jitters: your hands tremble slightly, your stomach feels fluttery, and you can't quite relax. Athletes often experience jitters before a big game, even when they've practiced for months.

The word captures that restless, fidgety energy that comes with anxiety or excitement. Someone with the jitters might tap their foot repeatedly, pace around the room, or keep adjusting their clothes. Your heart might beat faster, and you might feel wound up like a spring.

Jitters usually happen before something important: a performance, a test, meeting someone new, or trying something for the first time. They're different from deep fear or panic. Jitters are that surface-level nervousness that makes you feel wiggly and unsettled, like you've had too much sugar or can't quite catch your breath.

Interestingly, people also get jitters from drinking too much coffee or caffeinated soda. The caffeine can make you feel jumpy and shaky, even when you're not nervous about anything at all. That's why someone might say “I've got the coffee jitters” after their third cup of the day.