Meaning & use
knot in stomach
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
a tight, nervous feeling in your stomach caused by worry, fear, or excitement
Grammar: Almost always used with "a" and a possessive word: a knot in my/his stomach.
Patterns
- a knot in your stomach
- have a knot in your stomach
- get a knot in your stomach
- a knot in the stomach
I had a knot in my stomach before the interview.
She gets a knot in her stomach every time the phone rings late at night.
There was a knot in his stomach as he waited for the test results.
Common combinations
- have a knot in your stomach
- I have a knot in my stomach about the meeting tomorrow.
- get a knot in your stomach
- He gets a knot in his stomach whenever he has to speak in public.
- a knot in the stomach
- A knot in the stomach is a common sign of anxiety.
- a knot of fear in your stomach
- She felt a knot of fear in her stomach as the plane took off.
Synonyms and how they differ
- butterflies in your stomach
- This means a fluttering, excited feeling, often before something pleasant or slightly nerve-racking; a knot in your stomach feels tighter and more anxious.
- sinking feeling
- A sinking feeling is a sudden drop in mood when you realize something bad; a knot in your stomach can last longer and is more about ongoing worry.
Commonly confused: knot in stomach or lump in throat?
knot in stomach vs lump in throat
A lump in your throat is a tight feeling that makes it hard to speak, usually from sadness or emotion; a knot in your stomach is about worry or fear.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase needs "a" and the preposition "in": a knot in my stomach. Option 1 is missing the article, and "on" or "at" do not fit this idiom.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “knot in stomach”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.