keying up
Building nervous anticipation
Keying up is the process of becoming or making someone excited, nervous, or tense in anticipation of something: The team was keying up for the championship game.
Athletes key up before competition; performers key up before going onstage.
The state it produces—being keyed up—suggests energy coiled and ready for release.
- primingMaking ready beforehand
- cueingSignaling when to start
- psyching upMental self-motivation beforehand
- excitementState of eager enthusiasm
- gearing upPreparing for something ahead
tension · on edge · energizing · exhilaration · prompting · anticipation · nervousness · nervous energy · activating · thrill · eagerness · triggering · prepping · revving up · conditioning · motivating · alertness · sparking
- CB cultureCB, CB radio, breaker, ten-four, good buddy
keying upcalming down
Becoming less agitated
winding down · relaxing · settling down · chilling out · unwinding
keying upsoothing
Reducing distress or discomfort
pacifying · calming · reassuring · destressing · taking the edge off
keying uploosening up
Reducing tension or rigidity
letting go · destressing · defusing · unbending · slackening
key, keys, keyed, keying, keyboard, keyhole, keystone, keynote, keyring