Uptight: meaning, definitions and examples

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uptight

[ ʌpˈtaɪt ]

^{Context #1}

feeling stressed or nervous

Feeling anxious or tense, especially in social situations or when facing a challenge. It can also refer to being excessively strict or rigid in one's behavior or attitudes.

Synonyms

anxious, edgy, nervous, tense

Examples of usage

She always gets uptight before giving a presentation.
Don't get uptight about the small details.

^{Context #2}

excessively concerned with rules or regulations

Being overly strict or particular about following rules or conventions. It can also refer to being easily offended or upset by minor issues.

Synonyms

particular, perfectionist, rigid, strict

Examples of usage

He's so uptight about punctuality.
She's really uptight about cleanliness.

Translations

Translations of the word "uptight" in other languages:

🇵🇹 tenso

🇮🇳 तनावग्रस्त

🇩🇪 verkrampft

🇮🇩 tegang

🇺🇦 напружений

🇵🇱 spięty

🇯🇵 緊張した (kinchō shita)

🇫🇷 tendu

🇪🇸 tenso

🇹🇷 gergin

🇰🇷 긴장한 (ginjanghan)

🇸🇦 متوتر (mutawater)

🇨🇿 napjatý

🇸🇰 napätý

🇨🇳 紧张的 (jǐnzhāng de)

🇸🇮 napet

🇮🇸 stirður

🇰🇿 қатты

🇬🇪 დაძაბული

🇦🇿 gərgin

🇲🇽 tenso

Word origin

The word 'uptight' originated in the 19th century and was originally used to describe something that was tightly secured or tense. Over time, it evolved to also describe a person who is tense or overly strict. The term has since become popular in informal language to describe someone who is anxious or excessively concerned with rules.