Sign of nerves as goat moves quickly (11)
I believe the answer is:
butterflies
'sign of nerves' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are plural nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.
'goat moves quickly' is the wordplay.
'goat' becomes 'butter' (something which 'butts').
'moves quickly' becomes 'flies' ('fly' can be a synonym of 'move quickly').
'butter'+'flies'='BUTTERFLIES'
'as' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for butterflies that I've seen before include "Nervous sensation" , "Skippers, for example" , "coppers?" , "insects?" , "Nervous feeling in stomach" .)