1. oraxa

    oraxa Member

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    What does butterflies in your stomach feel like?

    Discussion in 'Research' started by oraxa, Apr 4, 2023.

    Everyone talks about it, but I don't think I've ever feeling experienced the feeling. Can anyone describe what it feels like?
     
  2. Xoic

    Xoic Prognosticator of Arcana Ridiculosum Contributor Blogerator

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    It feels something like when you're on a roller coaster and you go over the first big hill and start going down. You're in freefall at that point, and it does something in your gut, you get this fluttery feeling. You can also get it in a car if you go over a hill pretty fast, or maybe on a swingset, especially the really tall ones, if you swing high enough. It happens when you drop into freefall. People probably get it when they jump out of airplanes of go bunjee jumping too. It's just a sort of burst of intense excitement in the solar plexus, but there's an undeniable physical sensation too. You get sort of the same thing when you're really excited and happy about something. I guess you could describe it as a tickling inside.
     
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  3. oraxa

    oraxa Member

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    So like that dropping/swooping feeling?
     
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  4. Xoic

    Xoic Prognosticator of Arcana Ridiculosum Contributor Blogerator

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    Exactly. I guess it's also like when you're a kid and your dad picks you up and throws you up in the air and catches you, or spins you around in the air. I don't remember if spinning does it, it's been a long time since anybody picked me up and spun me, or since I rode on Tom's Twister at Six Flags. But I think rides that spin you and throw you around will do it at times. It feels really exhilarating (my big word of the day). It gives you a big full-body thrill but it definitely comes from the solar plexus area (the notch under the front of the rib cage).
     
  5. oraxa

    oraxa Member

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    Interesting
     
  6. Xoic

    Xoic Prognosticator of Arcana Ridiculosum Contributor Blogerator

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    But I should be clear—the butterflies in the stomach is only the fluttery tickling in the solar plexus, it doesn't include the rest of the full-body rush effect you also get with the rides. And when you get it (butterflies in the stomach) you want to laugh out loud because you feel so good, you just well up with intense pleasure. You get a big goofy grin on your face and everybody can see that you're feeling great.
     
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  7. oraxa

    oraxa Member

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    Aww that's sweet! So the reason I asked is because for a sub-plot of my storyline, my OC Reilly is feeling all stressed because he's realized he's falling for my other OC Amelia. And when he's with this girl, he feels warmer and his tummy feels tied up in knots (or butterflies)
     
  8. Set2Stun

    Set2Stun Rejection Collector Contributor Contest Winner 2023 Contest Winner 2022

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    My first thought for how to describe it is that it's like feeling anxiety - but in anticipation of something good happening, rather than bad. Positive nervousness, if that makes sense.
     
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  9. Xoic

    Xoic Prognosticator of Arcana Ridiculosum Contributor Blogerator

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    Butterflies in the stomach isn't the same as the stomach being tied up in knots, though sometimes you get both at the same time, expecially if being attracted to somebody makes you really nervous. I'd say the stomach being tied up in knots feels lower, it's really more in the guts rather than the stomach (which is very high, partly behind the rib cage, right around the area of the solar plexus).
     
  10. oraxa

    oraxa Member

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    @Xoic My dumbass can't tell the difference lol

    I wouldn't exactly say Reilly's REALLY nervous, but he definitely feels like a little nervousness inside when he's with this girl. Like the kind of nervousness where inside he's like "OMG Here she is. Just be cool and act natural", if that makes more sense. Like he'll get that weird feeling inside as result of that nervousness, like the feeling that his tummy's in knots. Maybe he gets more like butterflies when she compliments him or kissing him. I should've clarified that before, that's my bad
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2023
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  11. oraxa

    oraxa Member

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    I don't wanna use cliches
     
  12. Xoic

    Xoic Prognosticator of Arcana Ridiculosum Contributor Blogerator

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    Well I guess it's a combination of excitement and nervousness. I'm sure there are other ways to state it. It would help to know the situation. Kinda hard to come up with terms and phrases out of thin air. If it's young love jitters, like a boy trying to work up the nerve to ask a girl out or something (it's usually something close to that), you could say "He had to swallow his thudding heart" or something. That's sort-of a cliche too though.

    Maybe something like "His stomach was going crazy—overflowing with excitement and nervousness." Or "Excitement and nervousness were wrestling each other in her stomach."
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2023
  13. w. bogart

    w. bogart Contributor Contributor Blogerator

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    Cliches are cliches for a reason. The reader will know immediately what you are talking about, and if the scene is done right may actually feel that same reaction.
     
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  14. Catrin Lewis

    Catrin Lewis Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2023 Community Volunteer

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    Pay attention to what your tummy does next time you're in a nervous-making situation, and come up with a metaphor for that.

    Meaning, a metaphor that's in tune with the character's personality.
     
  15. Rzero

    Rzero Reluctant voice of his generation Contributor

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    "She gives me the tummy flutters."
    Come on. It's adorable. :)

    ETA: This made sense when the question was, "What's another phrase for butterflies in the stomach?" The threads were combined.
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2023
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  16. oraxa

    oraxa Member

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    I ask because in the chapter I'm currently writing, the main character is starting to develop "the feels" for another character. I've never really experienced butterflies in my stomach, so I'm not actually sure what it feels like or how to describe. like can someone explain in a literal way what it feels like?
     
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  17. evild4ve

    evild4ve Critique is stranger than fiction Supporter Contributor

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    If you want literally literal, they just sit there. The phrase makes it sound like they're supposed to be moving about, but they always stop when you chew them.

    Usually for further research I'd suggest to skim-read a shelf of YA romance novels, since it's finding some nice words for it that matters.
    But assuming the OP is of age, perhaps a sunny day in the park or on a beach might be more advisable - asking people "What does falling in love feel like?"
    Look them straight in the eye: "It's for my novel."
     
  18. Homer Potvin

    Homer Potvin A tombstone hand and a graveyard mind Staff Supporter Contributor

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  19. big soft moose

    big soft moose An Admoostrator Admin Staff Supporter Contributor Community Volunteer

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    Not any more she don't - i merged all three into a single thread to avoid duplication

    On point asking what does butterflies in your stomach feel like is a redundancy... nervous anticipation of this nature feels like there are butterflies in your stomach, hence the saying
     

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