stage fright
/ˈsteɪdʒ fraɪt/
Meaning
Stage fright refers to the nervousness, anxiety, or fear that a person feels before or during a performance in front of an audience. It can affect actors, musicians, public speakers, or anyone presenting to a group. This feeling is very common and can range from mild butterflies in the stomach to complete panic.
Examples
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Even experienced actors sometimes suffer from stage fright before the curtain goes up.
Even experienced actors sometimes suffer from stage fright before the curtain goes up.
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She overcame her stage fright by taking deep breaths and practicing her speech.
She overcame her stage fright by taking deep breaths and practicing her speech.
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His stage fright was so bad that he forgot his lines completely.
His stage fright was so bad that he forgot his lines completely.
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Joining a public speaking club is a great way to cure your stage fright.
Joining a public speaking club is a great way to cure your stage fright.
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I get terrible stage fright whenever I have to present my work in meetings.
I get terrible stage fright whenever I have to present my work in meetings.
Common Mistakes
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✗ She has a big stage fear when speaking in public.
✓ She has terrible stage fright when speaking in public.
'Stage fright' is a fixed collocation. Using 'stage fear' is a literal translation and sounds unnatural to native speakers.
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✗ The singer suffered of stage fright.
✓ The singer suffered from stage fright.
The verb 'suffer' is paired with the preposition 'from', not 'of'.
Related Expressions
Practice
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He was supposed to sing a solo, but his ___ kept him from going on stage.
💡 The fear of performing in front of people.
Show answer
stage fright
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If you suffer from ___, try focusing on a single person in the audience.
💡 Nervousness felt before a performance.
Show answer
stage fright