fever pitch

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfiːvə pɪtʃ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfivɚ pɪtʃ/

• Audio (AU)

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• Hyphenation: fe‧ver pitch

fever pitch (uncountable)

1. (idiomatic) Extreme excitement.
   • 1837, J. G. Lockhart, Memoirs of the Life of Sir Water Scott, Bart.‎, volume i, Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, page 312:

     [T]here was a wonderful exhilaration about it all: my blood was kept at fever-pitch

   • 2013 November 3, Delme Parfitt, “Cardiff City 1 – 0 Swansea City: Steven Caulker heads Bluebirds to South Wales derby win”, in Wales Online:

     After all the hype, all the fever pitch build-up, the encounter never really lived up to expectations – as is so often the case with derbies – and the atmosphere was even a little subdued at times.

   • 2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948, page 42:

     The Second World War was reaching fever pitch, with the entire Allied effort in top gear for the imminent invasion of Europe, while later that month buzz bombs would start falling on London.