be wound up

[/biː waʊnd ʌp/]

verb phrase

estar tenso/ansioso; terminar

1. to be in a state of nervous tension or anxiety

She was wound up before the presentation.

Ela estava tensa antes da apresentação.

2. to end up in a particular situation or place

We wound up at a small café in the old town.

Acabamos em um pequeno café na cidade antiga.

3. to have a clock or mechanism activated by turning a key or handle

The toy was wound up and started moving.

O brinquedo foi enrolado e começou a se mover.

NYC Slang

be stressed out; be all wound up

Synonyms

Antonyms

Regional Variations

General Brazilian

estar tenso; acabar em

commonly used in both formal and informal contexts

São Paulo

estar estressado; terminar em

stress-related meaning is very common

Portugal

estar enervado; acabar por

enervado conveys tension; acabar por is typical construction

wound up like a clock

get wound up

wind up doing something

wind up in a place

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