Crossword Genius

Nervous feeling, say, associated with Burton’s debut theatre part (11)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

butterflies

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'nervous feeling' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'say associated with burton's debut theatre part' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'say' could be 'utter' (to utter something is to say or speak it) and 'utter' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for butterflies that I've seen before include "coppers?" , "Nervous feeling in stomach" , "insects?" , "Nervous tremors in the stomach" , "Skippers, for example" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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