“七上八下”常见的英文表达是 “be in a state of anxiety/uneasiness” 或 “have mixed feelings” ,也可以形象地说成 “feel like one's heart is jumping up and down” (字面直译出心跳上下起伏的感觉,更生动形象)。
be in a state of anxiety/uneasiness:直接表达处于焦虑、不安的状态,与“七上八下”那种内心忐忑、不安的感觉相符。例如:Before the exam, he was in a state of anxiety.(考试前,他心里七上八下的 。)
have mixed feelings:表示有复杂的、混合的情绪,也能体现出内心的不平静。例如:She had mixed feelings when she heard the news.(听到这个消息时,她心里七上八下的 。)
feel like one's heart is jumping up and down:是一种比较形象的直译,能更生动地传达出那种内心的慌乱和不安。例如:When waiting for the interview result, I felt like my heart was jumping up and down.(等待面试结果的时候,我心里七上八下的 。)