Meaning of 'nelly knees'

[Luizzan]

English Idioms and Expressions, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #10 "Under my Skin", question 1

It was late at night, the wind was howling and when she heard the knock on the door, she almost jumped out of her skin.

(a) was pleased
(b) was terrified
(c) was asleep
(d) was delighted

English Idioms and Expressions, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #10 "Under my Skin", answer 1

It was late at night, the wind was howling and when she heard the knock on the door, she was terrified.

Correct answer: (b) was terrified
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What is "nelly" as in nelly knees

[Mister Micawber]

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Nelly = feminine proper name, a pet form of Ellen, Helen, or Eleanor. Meaning "weak-spirited person" is first attested 1961.

noun (pl. nellies) informal: 1 a silly person. 2 (derogatory) an effeminate homosexual man.

I could find no direct definition of 'nelly knees', and the idiom is new to me. It could refer to 'the legs quivering with fear', or it could mean simply 'sitting crosslegged'.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Haihao]

The context suggests (b) is correct but is it possible that (a) or (d) is OK as well? Supposing she had been expecting somene eagerly.

haihao

[Mister Micawber]

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No; to (almost) jump out of one's skin = to be frightened/terrified/shocked. The exercise is to identify the meaning of the emboldened text.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Haihao]

Aha, now I caught the drift of the quiz. Thank you Mr Micawber, I learned something again I couldn't learn from textbooks and it also left me a deep impression. I love this site very much.

By the way, my sister lives in Yokohama, too. She studied English-American literature in Waseda. Well.., let's see, if my memory doesn't fail me, I guess 'Mr Micawber' is also the 'friendly guy' in 'David Copperfield', my most favorite book, am I right? Anyway I like that good man with great success in Australia.

My best regards,
haihao