Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
adjective Slang.
- tense, nervous, or jittery.
- annoyed or angry.
- stiffly conventional in manner or attitudes.
adjective informal
- displaying tense repressed nervousness, irritability, or anger
- unable to give expression to one’s feelings, personality, etc
“tense,” slang, 1934, from up + tight. Meaning “straight-laced” first recorded 1969. It was used in a sense of “excellent” in jazz slang c.1962.