worry wart

worry wart

n. someone who worries all the time. Don’t be such a worry wart. See also: wart, worry

worry wart

A person who agonizes unduly, anticipating failure or disaster or other misfortune. This slangy term, also spelled worrywart, dates from about 1930. For example, “‘So who’s alarmed?’ I asked. . . . ‘You were, Mr. Worrywart. You saw the Health truck outside and what did you think? Sickness’” (James Patterson, London Bridges, 2004). See also nervous Nellie.See also: wart, worry