nerve
nerve — noun
1. a long, thin bundle of fibres inside your body that carries electrical signals f
a long, thin bundle of fibres inside your body that carries electrical signals from your brain to your muscles and organs, and sends information about touch, temperature, and pain back to your brain.
The doctor told Feng that the damaged nerve in his elbow might need surgery to restore his grip.
countable noun for a specific anatomical structure
Each nerve in the human body sends electrical signals from the brain to the muscles and back again.
Christopher pinched a nerve in his neck while sleeping and could not turn his head the next morning.
The biologist showed the class how nerve fibres carry signals faster than electricity through a copper wire.
collocation: nerve fibre(s)
- optic nerve
- sciatic nerve
- nerve damage
- nerve ending
- nerve cell
- nerve signal
- pinched nerve
- neuron
a single nerve cell, not the whole fibre bundle
- nerve fibre
a more precise term for the long thread-like structure within a nerve
Grammar Patterns
nerve + verb (send/carry/connect)
Usage Note
This is the only literal, physical sense of 'nerve'. It is a countable noun — you can talk about 'a nerve', 'the optic nerve', or 'nerve damage'.
Common Mistakes
2. the inner strength that helps you face a hard, scary, or upsetting task without
the inner strength that helps you face a hard, scary, or upsetting task without giving in to your fear.
It took a lot of nerve for Talia to walk onto the stage and sing alone in front of thousands.
uncountable: take nerve / have the nerve + to-infinitive
James did not have the nerve to tell his parents that he had failed the maths exam.
Lauren lost her nerve halfway up the climbing wall and had to be helped down by the instructor.
common phrase: lose your nerve
It takes a lot of nerve to leave a stable job and start your own company from nothing.
- have the nerve
- take nerve
- require nerve
- nerve for
- nerve to do
- cowardice
lack of courage in the face of danger or difficulty
Grammar Patterns
have the nerve + to-infinitive
take nerve
require nerve
Usage Note
Often used in the pattern 'have the nerve + to-infinitive' or with verbs like 'take' and 'require'. This sense is positive or neutral — contrast with sense 6 (AUDACITY), where the same pattern implies rudeness.
Common Mistakes
3. a feeling of worry or fear that you experience when an important event is approa
a feeling of worry or fear that you experience when an important event is approaching, often with physical symptoms like trembling, a racing heart, or sweating.
Christopher's nerves were so bad before the interview that he could not hold his coffee cup steady.
plural form: 'nerves' for a state of anxiety
Élise tried to calm her nerves by taking slow, deep breaths before the race started.
Ilan's nerves got the better of him, so he decided not to board the plane.
idiomatic: nerves get the better of someone
The singer admitted that she still gets stage nerves before every single performance.
- calm your nerves
- settle your nerves
- steady your nerves
- bad nerves
- shot nerves
- case of nerves
- nerve-racking
- calm
the opposite emotional state; having no anxiety at all
Grammar Patterns
one's nerves are + adjective
calm/settle/steady one's nerves
Usage Note
Almost always used in the plural form 'nerves' or as uncountable. Use 'nerves' for temporary anxiety before an event (exam, interview, performance). 'Anxiety' is more general and can be a long-term condition.
Common Mistakes
4. a feeling of being annoyed or angered, especially when caused by small, repeated
a feeling of being annoyed or angered, especially when caused by small, repeated actions or problems that wear down your patience over time.
The baby's constant crying was starting to get on Beatrix's nerves after three long hours.
idiomatic phrase: get on someone's nerves
Living in a tiny apartment with thin walls really gets on your nerves after a while.
Meera's habit of cracking her knuckles was beginning to get on everyone's nerves in the office.
The dripping tap in the bathroom kept Kian awake and really got on his nerves all night.
repeated small annoyance as the subject
- get on nerves
- frayed nerves
- grind on nerves
- jangled nerves
- annoyance
a more general term; 'nerves' emphasizes the cumulative effect of repeated irritation
- patience
the ability to stay calm without getting irritated
Grammar Patterns
get on someone's nerves
someone's nerves are frayed
Usage Note
This sense overlaps closely with the idiom 'get on someone's nerves'. When you say 'something gets on your nerves', it means that thing repeatedly irritates you — distinct from sense 3 (NERVOUSNESS), which is about worry.
5. the ability to stay calm and in control of your emotions when you are in a diffi
the ability to stay calm and in control of your emotions when you are in a difficult, dangerous, or high-pressure situation.
The pilot kept his nerve and brought the damaged plane down safely through the storm.
fixed phrase: keep / hold your nerve
When the investor pulled out at the last minute, Hoa never lost her nerve and found another deal.
The chess champion held his nerve and waited calmly for his opponent to make a mistake.
fixed phrase: hold your nerve
You need steady nerve to be a paramedic and stay calm when every second counts.
- keep your nerve
- hold your nerve
- lose your nerve
- nerves of steel
- composure
more formal; 'composure' is always calm, while 'nerve' in this sense includes the idea of continuing to act bravely
- self-control
broader; covers all emotions, not just staying calm under pressure
- coolness
informal; suggests a relaxed, almost casual calmness
- panic
loss of control and calm thinking in a stressful moment
Grammar Patterns
keep/hold your nerve
lose your nerve
Usage Note
Common in fixed verb phrases: 'keep your nerve', 'hold your nerve', 'lose your nerve'. The collocation 'nerves of steel' (extreme calm under pressure) also belongs to this sense.
Common Mistakes
❌ 'He lost his nerve and ran away.' — This is actually correct usage. The mistake is confusing it with sense 3: 'He was full of nerves before the test' (anxiety before an event) vs 'He lost his nerve during the crisis' (failed to stay calm in a high-pressure moment).
6. bold and disrespectful behaviour that shocks or offends other people because it
bold and disrespectful behaviour that shocks or offends other people because it seems rude or unsuitable for the situation.
James had the nerve to tell the manager that her new business plan was completely wrong.
informal: have the nerve + to-infinitive for audacity
Devika had some nerve showing up late to her own wedding rehearsal with no explanation.
The politician had the nerve to blame the public for the very problems he had caused himself.
Beatrix had some nerve asking for a promotion after only two weeks in the job.
informal pattern: have some nerve + -ing
- have the nerve
- some nerve
- what a nerve
- politeness
behaviour that follows social rules and shows respect for others
Grammar Patterns
have the nerve + to-infinitive
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 2 (COURAGE): sense 2 is about overcoming fear for a worthy goal; sense 6 is about doing something socially inappropriate. The speaker's tone usually makes the difference — often sarcastic or disapproving.
Common Mistakes
❌ 'She had the nerve to save the child from the fire.' — This uses the wrong sense. Saving a child is brave, not rude. Use sense 2 (COURAGE) for positive actions. Use sense 6 only for actions that are shocking or inappropriate.
to annoy or irritate someone, especially through small, repeated actions or sounds.
The way Luca kept tapping his pen on the table was really getting on Meera's nerves during the exam.
When the children ask the same question over and over, it starts to get on their teacher's nerves.
to accidentally say or do something that makes someone feel upset, angry, or defensive because it involves a sensitive topic.
Christopher hit a raw nerve when he asked about the failed project, and the team leader's face turned red.
Rania's comment about unfair promotions touched a raw nerve with several colleagues in the room.
strain every nerve
idiomto try with all your strength or effort to achieve something very difficult.
The rescue team strained every nerve to reach the injured climbers before the blizzard hit.
Feng strained every nerve to finish the marathon despite a painful leg injury.
war of nerves
idioma conflict or competition in which each side tries to defeat the other by putting pressure on them and destroying their confidence, rather than by using physical force.
The contract negotiations became a war of nerves between the two companies, with neither side willing to give in first.
To be extremely worried or anxious about something.
Before her exam, Maya was a bundle of nerves.
Why is Diego a bag of nerves today?
To annoy or irritate someone.
The constant tapping of his pen got on my nerves.
Does the loud music get on your nerves?
have nerves of steel
idiomTo stay calm and not become upset in a difficult situation.
The surgeon has nerves of steel during operations.
You need nerves of steel to handle this job.
To say something that makes someone feel upset or angry because it reminds them of something painful.
His comment about her weight touched a raw nerve.
Did my joke strike a sensitive nerve with you?
To try very hard to achieve something.
She strained every nerve to finish the race first.
The team strained every sinew to win the championship.
To have a strong emotional effect on someone, often by touching on a sensitive topic.
His speech about failure struck a nerve with the audience.
The article struck a nerve with many readers.
a war of nerves
idiomA situation where two sides try to defeat each other by using psychological pressure instead of physical force.
The negotiations became a war of nerves between the two companies.
The cold war was a war of nerves between superpowers.
nerve — verb
1. to gather your inner strength deliberately so that you can face a frightening or
to gather your inner strength deliberately so that you can face a frightening or deeply unpleasant task.
Rania nerved herself to read the letter from the hospital, expecting the worst possible news.
formal: nerve + reflexive pronoun + to-infinitive
Joaquín nerved himself to walk into the headmaster's office and confess that he had broken the window.
Tendai nerved herself to press the call button and tell the pilot about the strange noise she had heard.
Devika nerved herself to ring her brother after ten years of silence between them.
- nerve yourself to do
- nerve yourself for
- steel oneself
very similar in meaning and formality; 'steel oneself' is slightly more common in modern English
- brace oneself
more common in everyday speech; implies preparing for impact or bad news, not just gathering courage
- gather courage
a less formal alternative that does not require a reflexive pronoun construction
Grammar Patterns
nerve + reflexive pronoun + to-infinitive
Usage Note
This is a formal or literary verb, found more often in written narratives than in everyday conversation. The reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself, etc.) is required — you cannot say 'I nerved to do it'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/2
All five words describe the quality of facing difficulty or danger, but they differ in register and connotation. 'Courage' is the broadest and most formal term — it covers moral conviction, physical bravery, and long-term endurance ('the courage to speak the truth'). 'Nerve' is more situational and action-focused; you summon nerve for a specific hard task ('it took nerve to jump'). 'Guts' is informal and visceral, suggesting raw, almost instinctive determination rather than reflective bravery ('she had the guts to quit her job'). 'Daring' leans toward recklessness and risk-taking for excitement ('a daring escape'). 'Bravery' emphasises action in the face of recognised danger, often with a heroic tone. If you need a formal, broad term, choose 'courage'. For a specific difficult moment in everyday speech, 'nerve' or 'guts' works better.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'nerve' comes from Latin 'nervus', which originally meant 'sinew' or 'tendon' — the tough, cord-like tissue that connects muscle to bone. In ancient anatomy, sinews and nerves were not clearly distinguished; both were seen as string-like structures under the skin. The word passed into Old French as 'nerf' and then into Middle English, keeping the physical meaning. By the 1600s, scientists began to understand that some of these cords (what we now call nerves) carried sensation and movement signals, while others (tendons) were purely structural. Around the same time, writers began using 'nerve' metaphorically for mental strength, since nerves were thought to be the seat of courage and willpower. The metaphorical senses gradually branched further, giving us 'nerves' for anxiety and 'nerve' for boldness or audacity by the 1800s.