Meaning & use

hot and bothered

phrase·Everyday

Flustered, anxious, or agitated, often because of stress, embarrassment, or strong excitement.

See it in a sentence

She got all hot and bothered trying to finish the report before the deadline.

He became hot and bothered when the interviewer asked an unexpected question.

A note on using this word

This informal phrase can describe simple nervous agitation, but it is also sometimes used to hint at romantic or sexual excitement, depending on context.

Words with a similar meaning

flusteredagitated

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

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