nerve
Noun:
- A bundle of fibers that transmits impulses of sensation and motion between the brain or spinal cord and other parts of the body; a sinew or tendon. This is the primary anatomical meaning.
- Steadiness and courage in a demanding situation. This refers to one's mental strength, boldness, or fortitude.
- Impudent boldness; audacity, cheek. This meaning describes a rude or disrespectful kind of confidence.
Verb:
- To brace oneself mentally or summon one's courage. To prepare oneself for a difficult or unpleasant task.
Noun (Anatomical):
- The optic nerve carries visual information to the brain.
- The surgeon carefully avoided damaging the nerve during the operation.
Noun (Courage):
- It takes a lot of nerve to speak in front of such a large audience.
- She didn't have the nerve to ask for a raise.
Noun (Audacity):
- He had the nerve to show up late and then complain about the food!
- I can't believe the nerve of that salesman.
Verb:
- She nerved herself to open the letter containing the test results.
- You'll need to nerve yourself for the challenging conversation ahead.
"To get on someone's nerves": To irritate or annoy someone.
- That constant tapping is really starting to get on my nerves.
"A bundle of nerves": A person who is extremely nervous or anxious.
- Before the interview, he was a complete bundle of nerves.
"Nerve-racking" (often hyphenated): Causing extreme nervousness or anxiety.
- Waiting for the jury's verdict was a nerve-racking experience.
"To have nerves of steel": To be exceptionally brave and not easily frightened.
- The bomb disposal expert must have nerves of steel.
Nervous (adj): Easily agitated or alarmed; anxious. Also relating to the nerves.
- She felt nervous before her big presentation.
Nervy (adj, informal): Showing or requiring courage and audacity; sometimes meaning nervous or jumpy.
- That was a nervy move to challenge the CEO directly.
Unnerve (verb): To make someone lose courage or confidence.
- The sudden noise unnerved the hikers.
- Noun (Courage): Boldness, courage, fortitude, grit, mettle.
- Noun (Audacity): Cheek, gall, impudence, temerity, effrontery.
- Verb: Steel, brace, fortify, psych up (informal).
Note: "Nerve" is not commonly used to form standard phrasal verbs. Its verbal use is typically transitive (e.g., nerve oneself).
"To hit/touch a nerve": To mention a subject that causes someone pain, anger, or embarrassment.
- My comment about his failed project really hit a nerve.
"To strain every nerve": To make the utmost effort.
- The team strained every nerve to finish the project on time.
"To lose one's nerve": To suddenly lose one's courage.
- He was going to bungee jump but lost his nerve at the last moment.
- impudent aggressiveness
- I couldn't believe her boldness
- he had the effrontery to question my honesty
- the courage to carry on
- he kept fighting on pure spunk
- you haven't got the heart for baseball
- any bundle of nerve fibers running to various organs and tissues of the body
- get ready for something difficult or unpleasant