Feelings & Moods phrases and words in English

The colourful, everyday way English describes how you feel — way past 'happy' and 'sad'. Idioms for the group chat, the diary and the 'how are you, really?' conversation, each one painting a picture.

30 phrases · meanings & example sentences

“Hangry”

A blend of 'hungry' and 'angry' — that snappy, irritable mood you get when you haven't eaten. One of the most useful modern words in English, instantly understood and very fun to say.

Don't ask me to make decisions before lunch, I'm hangry
Sorry I snapped, I was just hangry — feed me and I'm a delight
We always pack snacks for road trips so nobody gets hangry

“On cloud nine”

Blissfully, floatingly happy — as if you're sitting on the highest, fluffiest cloud. Reserved for the really good news: love, success, relief. A step above just being glad.

She's been on cloud nine since she got the offer letter
We were on cloud nine the day we got the keys to the flat
He came back from the date on cloud nine and wouldn't stop smiling

“Down in the dumps”

Feeling low, gloomy and a bit hopeless — the 'dumps' being a metaphorical pit of sadness. Lighter and more everyday than 'depressed', good for a passing bad mood.

He's been a bit down in the dumps since the team lost
Rainy Mondays always leave me down in the dumps
She was down in the dumps about the breakup but she's bouncing back

“Butterflies in my stomach”

That fluttery, nervous-excited feeling before something big — a date, an interview, a stage. The 'butterflies' are the flips your stomach does. Equal parts fear and thrill.

I had butterflies in my stomach before walking onto the stage
First day at the new job and I've got butterflies
She still gets butterflies when he texts, even after two years

“Fed up”

Tired and frustrated to the point of having had enough — you're so 'fed' (filled up) with something that you can't take any more. A very natural way to say you're done with a situation.

I'm fed up with the constant delays on this line
She got fed up waiting and just left
He's fed up of being the only one who does the washing up

“Pumped”

Energised, excited and ready to go — as if you've been 'pumped' full of adrenaline. Big, enthusiastic energy that works before anything you can't wait for.

I'm so pumped for the concert tonight, I've waited months for this
The whole team was pumped before the final
Got my hiking boots ready, super pumped for the trip

“Bummed out”

Disappointed and deflated about something that didn't go your way. 'A bummer' is the disappointing thing; to be 'bummed out' is to feel it. Casual and very common.

I was bummed out the gig got cancelled at the last minute
She's pretty bummed out about missing the wedding
Don't be bummed out, there'll be other chances

“On edge”

Tense, anxious and easily startled — as if balanced on the edge of something, ready to react. Use it for that jittery, can't-relax feeling during stressful times.

I've been on edge all week waiting for the test results
The whole office was on edge before the layoffs were announced
Too much coffee leaves me on edge and unable to focus

“Cold feet”

Suddenly losing your nerve and wanting to back out right before doing something big — your feet go 'cold' and won't carry you forward. Classic for weddings, deals and bold decisions.

He got cold feet the night before the wedding but went through with it
I almost signed the lease then got cold feet
Don't get cold feet now, you've trained for this race all year

“Over the moon”

Absolutely delighted — so happy you could jump over the moon, from the old nursery rhyme. A warm, slightly British way to express joy about good news.

We're over the moon to announce we're expecting a baby
She was over the moon when she passed her driving test
They're over the moon with the new house

“Gutted”

Deeply disappointed, as if something has been ripped out of you. Widely used in British and Australian English for major letdowns — the result, the last-minute cancellation, the missed opportunity.

I was absolutely gutted when we lost in the last minute
She's gutted she didn't get the job after four rounds of interviews
We were gutted to miss the show — tickets sold out in minutes

“Over it”

Completely done caring about something — whether it's a situation, a person or a frustration you've decided to move past. Short, blunt and very common in casual speech.

I used to hate losing but honestly I'm over it — it's just a game
She's so over it, she deleted the whole conversation
Are you still upset about that? Get over it, it was ages ago

“Stoked”

Extremely excited and enthusiastic — originally surfer slang for a wave that got you fired up, now used everywhere for anything you can't wait for.

I'm so stoked for the festival this weekend
The whole crew was stoked when the project got greenlit
She was stoked to finally meet her favourite author

“Green with envy”

Intensely jealous — the colour green has been linked to envy since ancient times (Shakespeare used it too). A vivid, slightly dramatic way to admit you really want what someone else has.

I'm green with envy over their apartment, it's absolutely stunning
He was green with envy when he saw her new car
Don't be green with envy — put in the work and you'll get there

“In a funk”

A low, sluggish mood with no obvious cause — not depressed, just flat. The 'funk' is a vague gloom you can't quite shake until it lifts on its own.

I've been in a funk all week, can't quite put my finger on why
He went into a bit of a funk after the holiday ended
Sometimes you're just in a funk — rest and a walk usually sorts it

“Under the weather”

Not quite well — a little ill, drained or just off. Originally nautical: sailors went below deck when the sea got rough. Now the natural way to say you're slightly sick without making it a big deal.

I'm feeling a bit under the weather, might skip the gym tonight
She sounded under the weather on the call, hope she's okay
He's been under the weather since the weekend but won't see a doctor

“Chuffed”

Really pleased and quietly proud — a warmly British word with no direct American equivalent. You're chuffed about a compliment, good news, or pulling something off. Cosy rather than boastful.

I was chuffed when my boss actually noticed the extra effort
She's chuffed to bits — her painting won first prize
We're well chuffed with how the event turned out

“Miffed”

Slightly annoyed or offended — not furious, just a bit put out. Captures that restrained, quietly wounded feeling when someone lets you down or overlooks you.

I was a bit miffed they didn't bother telling me it was cancelled
She seemed miffed that no one remembered her birthday
He was miffed about the comment but didn't say anything

“Floored”

Completely stunned — so surprised or overwhelmed that it figuratively knocks you off your feet. Used for shock, awe, or being deeply moved, not just mild surprise.

The standing ovation absolutely floored her — she wasn't expecting it
I was floored when they offered me the job on the spot
He was floored by how much effort they'd put into the surprise

So emotionally overwhelmed that you seem to be outside your own body — usually with grief, worry or anger, but can also describe extreme joy. Captures peak emotional states that are hard to put into words.

She was beside herself when she found out she'd been accepted
He was beside himself with worry while they waited for news
The crowd was beside themselves when the band came back on for the encore

“Antsy”

Restless and unable to sit still — as if ants are crawling under your skin. Used when you're impatient, slightly nervous, or just can't seem to settle.

He gets antsy if he hasn't moved by mid-morning
I was antsy the whole flight, just wanted to land already
She's been antsy all day waiting to hear back about the interview

“Buzzing”

Bursting with energy and excitement — as if electricity is running through you. Very common in British English for that post-win, post-performance, post-good-news high.

We were absolutely buzzing after the final whistle
Still buzzing from the concert — what a show
She came out of the interview buzzing, felt like it really clicked

“Wound up”

Tense, stressed or agitated — like a spring that's been tightened too far. You get wound up by frustrating situations, bad news, or someone repeatedly pushing your buttons.

He gets so wound up watching football, it's almost painful
She was wound up all morning about the presentation
Try not to get wound up about things you can't control

“Wired”

Too alert and restless to sleep or relax — buzzing from caffeine, stress or excitement. Describes that overstimulated state where your brain won't switch off even when your body wants to stop.

Three espressos in and I'm completely wired — no chance of sleeping tonight
I was too wired after the concert to even think about going home
She's been wired all week with the deadline approaching

“Knackered”

Completely wiped out and exhausted — one of the most common British words for tiredness. More emphatic than 'tired', less dramatic than 'dead'. The honest answer to 'how are you' after a long week.

I can't go out tonight, I'm absolutely knackered after that shift
Three kids, two jobs — she's knackered by Tuesday
The hike was worth it but I was completely knackered by the end

“Frazzled”

Exhausted and on edge from too many things at once — the feeling of being stretched too thin. A mix of stress and tiredness that leaves you ragged and slightly singed.

By Friday afternoon she's completely frazzled from back-to-back meetings
The kids ran circles around him all day and he came home frazzled
New city, new job, no routine — I was frazzled for the first month

“Drained”

Completely emptied of energy — as if everything has been sucked out of you. Not just tired, but the flat, hollow exhaustion that comes specifically from emotional or social overload.

After two hours of that meeting, I felt completely drained
Caring for someone through illness leaves you emotionally drained
She's an introvert — big parties leave her drained no matter how fun they were

“Blue”

Quietly sad or gently melancholy — not dramatic, just a soft low mood. The 'blues' as an emotion gave its name to an entire music genre, which says everything about how human this feeling is.

I get a bit blue in January when the days are so short
He was feeling blue after she left, but nothing he couldn't handle
There's something about Sunday evenings that always makes me blue

“Rattled”

Shaken, unsettled and thrown off balance — as if someone literally rattled your cage. Unexpected news, a confrontation or a near-miss can rattle you and leave you unable to settle.

She came out of the interview visibly rattled — it hadn't gone well
He was rattled by the email and couldn't focus for the rest of the day
Don't let the opposition rattle you, just play your game

“Hyped”

Buzzing with intense excitement and anticipation — as if the hype around something has got inside you. More electric than 'excited', common around music drops, sports events and anything with a big build-up.

I've been hyped for this album since they announced it
The crowd was completely hyped before the headliner even came on
She's so hyped for the trip she can barely sleep the night before