clammy hands
Nervous, damp grip
Clammy hands are hands that feel unpleasantly moist, cool, and slightly sticky—the kind of sweaty palms associated with nervousness, fear, or illness.
The phrase often appears in descriptions of anxiety: His clammy hands betrayed his calm demeanor.
A clammy handshake suggests someone uncomfortable or unwell.
- sweaty palmsMoist hands from nerves
- sweatyMoist from exertion
- palmsHands' inner sides
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- nervous wreckPerson overwhelmed by anxiety
anxiety · damp · moist · cold · cold sweat · fear · handshake · slippery · grip · first impression · stress · trembling · perspiration · sticky · chill · interview · job interview · public speaking
- body reactionssweating, blushing, shiver, goosebumps, twitch
- stress reactionspanic, fear, fright, terror, horror
- Anxietyanxiety, nervousness, panic, worry, generalized anxiety
clammy, clam, clamminess, clammier, clammiest, hand, hands, handed, handing