I seem to recall a saying that goes "nervous as prey in a den of predators," but I can't remember the animals involved. I'd like to know what area you're from as well, since I imagine someone from Wyoming would say it different than someone using the expression in another country. I want to use real-world expressions for one character and fake expressions for everyone else.
Hmmm, I'm too tempted to make a bunch of politically incorrect jokes ("Nervous as an alcoholic at a MAAD meeting" type thing..), so I'll go with: "Nervous as a hare in a coyote den." From norcal. Heard it on tv or something probably. Hope it helps
The closest I can come are two I heard a lot while growing up: As nervous as a virgin in a whore house. As nervous as a whore in church. Then there is the other side: As happy as a fox in a chicken coop.
Why don't you make up one? It's better than something known, and the message can be as clear. I heard once: "He is as useless as an ashtray on a motorbike" Don't you think that's more powerful than any known expression?
It's a contrast thing. She's from the real world, everyone else is from a fantasy culture. I make up plenty of bizarre expressions for everyone else. Maybe I'm mixing up "cat in a roomful of rocking chairs" with "Daniel in the Lion's Den."
