CHAPDISC: HBP5, An Excess of Phlegm

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 144169

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Juli <jlnbtr at y...> wrote:
--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Juli <jlnbtr at y...> wrote:

Juli:
> 2) Mollywobbles. Anyone knows what it means? Not being English
myself I haven't a clue about it.

Geoff:
Steve (I think) pointed to "collywobbles" and I visualise JKR suddenly
thinking of this play on words because of the closeness to Molly's 
name.

The dictionary quotes two meanings: an informal description of stomach
trouble and a humorous reference to extreme anxiety - and, looking at
Molly's reaction to events, I think JKR had the latter in mind, which 
is the usage you would find nowadays in the UK. You
will often hear a native English speaker (usually older) say that they
have to do something which demands a special effort - speaking at a
wedding reception, meeting the Lord Mayor etc. - and they will
say "I've got the collywobbles about it."