When people feel anxious or out of their depth, they rarely just come out and say, “I’m nervous.”
In fact, they usually cover it up with jokes, distractions, or just desperate attempts to play it cool. Of course, these tactics aren’t always successful, and when someone’s freaking out internally, it usually becomes obvious pretty quickly. The tricky part is that nervousness doesn’t always show up as shaky hands or stuttering; it can be disguised in ways that seem like confidence, indifference, or even a super laid-back attitude. Here are some of the things people often say when they’re trying to hide how anxious they really are.
1. “Well, this is awkward.”
Some people deal with nervousness by calling it out before anyone else can. If they feel a weird silence or sense tension, they’ll blurt out something like this to defuse the moment, when really, they’re the ones feeling uncomfortable. It’s a way of shifting focus away from themselves by making it seem like everyone else is feeling just as awkward.
Ironically, instead of making things less awkward, it often does the opposite. Pointing it out puts people on edge, making them second-guess whether there was actually something awkward happening in the first place. In reality, this one is less about the situation and more about the speaker’s need to ease their own discomfort.
2. “I don’t really care, whatever works.”
Indecisiveness can be a sign of nervousness, especially when someone is worried about picking the “wrong” option. Instead of making a choice, they downplay their opinion to avoid any pressure. Saying they don’t care is often an easy way to dodge responsibility for making a decision.
They might actually have a preference but feel anxious about voicing it, fearing judgment or conflict. Instead of admitting uncertainty, they take the path of least resistance by acting indifferent. But deep down, they probably do care; they just don’t want to be put on the spot.
3. “I swear I’m not usually this awkward.”
People who feel like they’re messing up socially will sometimes try to cover their tracks by insisting that this isn’t how they “normally” are. They might say this after stumbling over their words, making a bad joke, or feeling like they’re not making the best impression.
It’s an attempt to reassure both themselves and the person they’re talking to. They want to make it clear that they’re not usually this uncomfortable; it’s just this particular situation throwing them off. But in reality, pointing it out usually just draws more attention to their nerves.
4. “I was just about to say that!”
When someone is feeling nervous, they might overcompensate by trying to prove they’re on the same wavelength as everyone else. Even if they weren’t about to say the exact same thing, agreeing enthusiastically makes them feel like they belong in the conversation.
This is a subtle way of seeking validation. They want to be seen as engaged, relevant, and connected to the group. It can also be a nervous reaction to feeling like they’re not contributing enough, so they jump in with an enthusiastic “same!” just to be part of the moment.
5. “Anyway…”
A quick subject change is a classic move when someone feels uneasy with where a conversation is going. Maybe they accidentally overshared, maybe they’re feeling put on the spot, or maybe they just don’t know what else to say. Either way, shifting gears is their way of regaining control.
It’s also a way to steer the conversation back into safer territory. When people are nervous, they want to avoid anything that makes them feel exposed, uncomfortable, or vulnerable. Changing the subject abruptly helps them escape a situation where they feel out of their depth.
6. “I feel like I’m talking too much.”
Sometimes, nervous energy comes out as way too much talking. Then, about halfway through a ramble, the person realises what’s happening and tries to call themselves out. They’re aware that they might be oversharing or dominating the conversation, but instead of stopping, they just comment on it.
It’s usually followed by a nervous laugh, but instead of actually pausing, they often just keep going because silence feels even scarier. This is their way of acknowledging their nerves while still trying to push through them.
7. “Haha, yeah, totally!”
This is a go-to response when someone doesn’t actually know what’s being talked about but doesn’t want to admit it. Rather than asking for clarification, they throw out a vague agreement and hope no one notices they’re completely lost.
Nervous people fear looking clueless, so instead of asking questions, they mask their confusion with enthusiastic agreement. The problem? If the conversation continues, and they’re expected to contribute, they might get caught not knowing what’s going on.
8. “Oh wow, that’s crazy!”
A close cousin to the last one, this gets used when someone feels like they need to react but doesn’t quite know how. It’s non-committal, works in almost any situation, and keeps them from having to come up with something more specific on the spot.
People often say this when they’re unsure how to respond but don’t want to seem uninterested. It’s a safe way to acknowledge what was said without having to contribute much more.
9. “Wait, what was I saying again?”
Nervous people often start talking just to fill space, only to realise mid-sentence that they have no idea where they were going with it. Instead of wrapping it up smoothly, they pause, laugh awkwardly, and hope someone else jumps in to save them.
When someone is feeling self-conscious or overwhelmed, their thoughts can move faster than their words. This moment of realisation is a telltale sign of someone feeling flustered and unsure of themselves.
10. “Sorry, I’m just really tired today.”
If someone feels like they’re acting off—maybe they’re stumbling over words, zoning out, or struggling to keep up—they’ll often blame it on being tired. It’s an easy excuse that people won’t question.
It’s not necessarily a lie, but a lot of the time, it’s just a socially acceptable excuse for feeling anxious or overwhelmed. Saying they’re tired makes it seem like there’s a logical reason for their behaviour, instead of admitting they’re nervous.
11. “I was totally kidding!”
When someone’s nervous about how their words were received, they might immediately backtrack with “I was just joking.” Even if they weren’t actually joking, pretending they were gives them an easy way out if they feel like they’ve said the wrong thing.
This is especially common when someone worries that their comment came across as awkward, offensive, or just not as funny as they intended. Rather than dealing with potential embarrassment, they try to rewrite the moment by framing it as a joke, even if it wasn’t meant to be one.
12. “I’m probably overthinking this, right?”
Nervous people tend to second-guess everything, but instead of keeping it to themselves, they’ll sometimes say it out loud for reassurance. They want to hear someone say, “Yeah, you’re overthinking it,” so they can stop worrying, at least for a little while. This tends to be a way of fishing for validation or comfort. They might know they’re spiralling a bit, but saying it aloud allows them to gauge how seriously they should take their own worries based on how others react.
13. “I hate small talk.”
Some people genuinely dislike small talk, but for others, this phrase is code for, “I have no idea how to handle this social situation.” They might struggle with chit-chat because they’re nervous, but instead of admitting that, they dismiss it altogether to make it seem like a personal choice.
They may feel awkward about casual conversations and worry about saying something uninteresting, so they distance themselves from small talk completely. This way, they avoid feeling uncomfortable while also making it seem like they’re just too deep for surface-level chatter.
14. “No worries!”
Over-apologising and over-reassuring are both signs of nervousness. Someone might throw out a casual “No worries!” even when there was actually a reason to worry, just to avoid any tension.
They don’t want to seem upset, annoyed, or difficult, so they brush things off before there’s even a chance for conflict. Even if they do feel bothered, they’d rather smooth things over quickly than risk an uncomfortable confrontation.
15. “I feel like an idiot.”
Sometimes, nervous people try to beat others to the punch by making fun of themselves first. If they feel like they’ve said or done something awkward, they’ll call it out before anyone else can.
It’s a defence mechanism—if they make the joke first, it doesn’t sting as much. By saying something self-deprecating, they take control of the situation, hoping that laughing at themselves will prevent others from judging them too harshly.
16. “Okay, well, I should probably get going.”
When someone is uncomfortable in a situation, they’ll often start looking for the exit early. Even if they don’t actually have anywhere to be, they’ll use this line to wrap things up before they run out of things to say.
It’s not always that they want to leave; sometimes, they’re just nervous about overstaying their welcome or running out of conversation topics. By ending things on their own terms, they avoid the possibility of an even more awkward silence later on.
