antsy

antsy
[;an(t)si]

adjective
antsy (adjective)
antsier (comparative adjective)
antsiest (superlative adjective)
informal
agitated, impatient, or restless:
"Dick got antsy the day he put to sea""he was too antsy to stay in one place for long"
Similar:
agitated
anxious
fidgety
jumpy
fretful
restless
stir-crazy
wired


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Ant idioms in English are widely used to describe restlessness, diligence, smallness, or chaotic situations, offering vivid imagery in everyday language.

Examples of Ant Idioms
Ants in your pants / have ants in the pants
Meaning: Feeling restless, impatient, or anxious.
Usage: Refers to someone who cannot sit still due to excitement or nervousness.
Example: Little Johnny had ants in his pants eagerly awaiting the school trip
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As busy as an ant
Meaning: Extremely hardworking or constantly occupied.
Usage: Describes a person who is always active and diligent.
Example: The gardener was as busy as an ant, tending to every plant meticulously
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Work like an ant
Meaning: To work hard and diligently.
Usage: Highlights persistent effort and industriousness.
Example: He works like an ant to provide for his family
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Ant’s eye view
Meaning: Seeing things from a very close or detailed perspective.
Usage: Suggests looking at something on a micro or granular scale.
Example: The engineer examined the machine from an ant’s eye view to detect errors
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Ant’s nest
Meaning: A busy or chaotic place.
Usage: Used metaphorically to describe disorder or intense activity.
Example: The airport was an ant’s nest with travelers during the holidays
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Army ant
Meaning: Someone aggressive or assertive in approach.
Usage: Used to describe relentless effort or forceful action.
Example: The negotiator acted like an army ant during the talks
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Fire ant
Meaning: Energetic, fiery, or sometimes aggressive person.
Usage: Indicates energy or intensity in character or action.
Example: Her enthusiasm was as contagious as a fire ant’s sting
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Ants on a log
Meaning: Literally a snack made from celery, peanut butter, and raisins; occasionally used playfully.
Usage: Mostly literal, but can add playful imagery in conversation.
Example: The kids love ants on a log as an afternoon snack
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Pissant
Meaning: Something trivial or worthless; also can refer to a contemptible person.
Usage: Describes something of little consequence or importance.
Example: Don’t worry about that pissant issue; it’s not worth your time
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Ant trail / ants on the march / ants in the colony
Meaning: Refers to coordinated activity or teamwork.
Usage: Often used to describe organized groups or movements.
Example: The students worked like ants in the colony to finish the group project
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2 Sources
Summary
Ant idioms effectively convey human traits such as restlessness, diligence, smallness, or chaos by drawing analogies to the behaviors of ants. They range from everyday expressions like ants in your pants to descriptive imagery such as ant’s nest or ant-like patience, enriching language and making conversations more vivid
The English Digest
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