Worry and Stress Idioms

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1. Stressed out
This is the most common expression used to talk about this feeling. When you are under pressure
from a stressful situation you may say that you’re feeling stressed out or just stressed.

“I’m so stressed out trying to organize everything for my wife’s surprise birthday party.”
“You look stressed, why don’t you get a massage?”
This phrase can be used actively too, if you state the cause of your stress:

“Preparing for the presentation next week is stressing me out.”

“Tammy orders groceries online because going to a supermarket stresses her out.”

2. Have a lot on your _________

If you have a lot on your__________, you have a great deal (or too much) to cope with.

“Could we have dinner together another time? I’ve got a lot on my _____ at the moment.”

3. Run / work yourself into the __________

When you do so much that you become unable to do anything well, we say that you
have run or worked yourself into the _____________.

“You’ll run yourself into the _______ if you keep working 12 hours a day.”

4. Lose _________ over something

If something is causing you great stress or anxiety, you may find you lose __________ over it. This can
mean that it is literally stopping you from _________ing, or just that it is making you worry a lot.

“I’m losing ______ over trying to decide which school to send our son to. It’s such an important
decision.”
“Don’t worry too much; it’s not worth losing ________ over it.”
 5. At a ______
Someone who is at a ____________ is perplexed or confused. This idiom can also express a state of
exasperation in a stressful situation.

“I’m at a _______ as to how the chicken ended up in the washing machine!”

6. At the end of your _________ /tether

If you are exasperated and out of patience then you may say that you are at the end of your
_____________ or tether.

“This report is so complicated; I’m at the end of my tether trying to understand it.”

7. At your wits’ _________

If you are at your wits’ ______________, you are at the limits of your mental resources and don’t know
how to proceed.

“I’ve been at my wits’ _________ all afternoon!”

8. Come ___________ at the seams

When someone comes ______________ at the seams, they are very upset and about to lose control or
have a breakdown.

“We thought Julian was going to come _______ at the seams when he lost his job, but actually he
took the news well.”

9. A _________ / load off your mind

If you’re able to relieve yourself of some worry or stress then you may say it’s a _______________ or load
off your mind.

“I’m so glad I’ve been able to talk to you about this; it’s really taken a ________ off my mind.”

10. Tear your _________ out

To tear your _____________ out means to be very upset or distressed over something.
_
“I’ve been tearing my _______ out over this presentation all morning!”
Sometimes in cartoons, characters are pictured literally tearing their __________ out when they are
stressed. But in everyday usage, we use this stress idiom figuratively.
 11. Up to your ________
If you’re up to your _____________ in something (or doing something), you’re fully immersed in and
occupied by it. This phrase suggests that you don’t have time for anything else.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you back yesterday; I’ve been up to my _______ organising my son’s
birthday party.”
“My husband is up to his _______ in paperwork trying to sort out his taxes.”

12. Worried ________ / ________with worry

This idiom about worry just means you are extremely worried. Sometimes it may actually make
you feel unwell or make you lose your appetite, but you can use worried _____________ even if the
situation is not making you feel physically ill.

“Jessie has been ________ with worry since her dog went missing. I hope he turns up soon.”

13. At __________ point

_______________ point is the point at which a machine, organization or system ceases to function
because it is overworked or put under too much strain. This stress idiom can also apply to a person.

“The company is at ________ point because the owners aren’t investing enough in staff training
and wellbeing.”
“I feel like our marriage is at _______ point. We can’t go on like this.”

14. Take it ________ on someone

This stress idiom means that you are treating someone badly because you are feeling stressed about
another situation. Before using the phrase take it ____________ on someone, you should first give some
context about the cause of your stress.

“Everything seems to be going wrong at work and I realized I’m taking it _______ on my family
when I get home.”
“The divorce has been really stressful but I’m trying not to take it _______ on my kids.”

15. Don’t know whether you’re _______ or going

If you are so stressed or exhausted that feel like you have lost control of a situation or can’t think
clearly, you might say you don’t know whether you’re _____________ or going.

“I have had so many sleepless nights with our newborn baby, I don’t know whether I’m ________
or going. I left the car keys in the fridge yesterday!”