sweat bullets

Related to sweat bullets: sweat out, sweating buckets

sweat bullets

To suffer intense distress, anxiety, worry, or fear. My passport had expired just before the trip, so I was sweating bullets as we went over the border into Canada. Some of these kids sweat bullets every time we have to give them a test.
See also: bullet, sweat
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

sweat bullets

Perspire profusely; also, suffer mental anguish. For example, We were sweating bullets, sitting in the sun through all those graduation speeches, or It was their first baby, and David was sweating bullets while Karen was in labor. The bullets in this expression allude to drops of perspiration the size of bullets. [Slang; mid-1900s]
See also: bullet, sweat
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

sweat bullets

be extremely anxious or nervous. North American informal
See also: bullet, sweat
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

sweat bullets

tv. to suffer about something; to be anxious or nervous about something; to sweat blood. The kid sat in the waiting room, sweating bullets while the surgeons worked on his brother.
See also: bullet, sweat
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

sweat bullets

Slang
1. To sweat profusely.
2. To worry intensely.
See also: bullet, sweat
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • up against it/the wall
  • up the wall
  • will be the death of
  • (someone or something) is going to be the death of (one)
  • (someone or something) will be the death of (one)
  • be the death of
  • be the death of (one)
  • be the death of somebody
  • take (one) out of (oneself)
  • take out of
References in periodicals archive
In every fiscal cycle, both cities' budget committees sweat bullets trying to find such amounts for important public services.
Fire merger a good test
The recommendations, each of which is spared a few pages of discussion, include "Don't be a Wealth Wannabe", a warning against getting sucked into false moneymaking schemes such as pyramid scandals or dubious popular real estate trends; "Know Your Customer Better", an encouragement to focus on what the customer needs and stay in a positive mindframe rather than focus on one's own shortcomings; and "Open an Easy-Earned Money Account", which suggests creating a bank account solely for the money one didn't have to sweat bullets to obtain, and use that money to pay for guilt-free luxuries.
100 Ways to Create Wealth
It may sound like a made-up scenario (when was the last time travelers could show up at the airport a half-hour before their flights and not sweat bullets?), but it isn't.
Flights of fancy: commercial airlines may be struggling, but private air charters are riding high
And as soon as you turn the corner, gasp for air and feel free to sweat bullets. That's a wrap!
Shaking shyness: just in time for the holiday social rush, we show you how to break outta the shy shell. The best part is that these are shy-busting tips you can put to use all year round
During 100-degree Austin heat, he and his teammates sweat bullets preparing for Competition in the upcoming Games.
Positively athletic: sports boost the lives of many with HIV