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hmm, I always assumed it's a single "heeby-jeeby" and therefore multiple "heeby-jeebies", because that's how English mostly does singular/plural. But the repet
by marcus_holmes 7y ago
hmm, I always assumed it's a single "heeby-jeeby" and therefore multiple "heeby-jeebies", because that's how English mostly does singular/plural.
But the repetition in "heebie-jeebies" looks more appealing. Even if grammatically unlikely.
I'm confused now.
Is "heebie-jeebies" intrinsically plural (like "sheep"), and therefore the pluralisation doesn't matter?
Is there even such a thing as a single "heeby-jeeby"?
- ncmncm 7y agoI can confidently state that I have never sighted a lone heeby-jeeby in the wild. Heebie-jeebies are best thought of as an affliction, like hives or bedbugs, characterized by shuddering and head-ducking. My guess is it started as a euphemism for hebephrenia, an obsolete affliction associated with youthful anxiety.
- RhysU 7y agoSeconded. Heebie-jeebies are uncountable.
- marcus_holmes 7y agoI'll go with the consensus opinion, then. "Heebie-jeebies" it is :)
- ncmncm 7y agoThe dictionaries credit a comic strip "Barney Google" with coining the expression. No saying whether that is really where the New Evil Empire got its name.