Example: Antes del examen, estaba hecho un manojo de nervios.
Definition
"Estar hecho un manojo de nervios" means to be extremely nervous or anxious, often to the point of feeling physically tense or unsettled. It describes a state where someone is overwhelmed by nervousness, as in being very stressed before an important event.
Translations
to be a bundle of nerves
een zenuwpees zijn
estar fet un sac de nervis
être une boule de nerfs
ein Nervenbündel sein
Etymology
The phrase "estar hecho un manojo de nervios" literally translates to "to be made a bundle of nerves." It uses the metaphor of a tightly bound bundle (manojo) to express intense nervous tension. This vivid expression dates back to Spanish idiomatic usage where physical bundling symbolizes emotional or mental states, emphasizing the tightly wound feeling of anxiety.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Estar hecho un manojo de nervios" appears in the Vocaplus list "Spanish - General - Modismos y refranes - (C2) - parte 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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to be a bundle of nerves