Topic: PSYCHOLOGY, PSYCHIATRY
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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Origin: | nervus |
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nerve1 S3 W3
1
worried feelings
nerves
[plural]a) used to talk about someone being worried or frightened
somebody's nerves are on edge/in tatters/frayed (=someone feels very worried or frightened)
calm/steady your nerves (=stop yourself feeling worried or frightened) Sean drank a large glass of brandy to calm his nerves.
Sean drank a large glass of brandy to calm his nerves. be a bundle/bag of nerves (=be extremely worried or frightened) I remember you were a bundle of nerves on your wedding day.
I remember you were a bundle of nerves on your wedding day.b) the feeling of being worried or a little frightened : 'What's wrong with Rachel?' 'It's just nerves. She's got her driving test tomorrow.'
'What's wrong with Rachel?' 'It's just nerves. She's got her driving test tomorrow.'2 nerves are parts inside your body which look like threads and carry messages between the brain and other parts of the body : a condition which affects the nerves in the back
body part
[countable]HBMPa condition which affects the nerves in the back trapped nerve British English /pinched nerve American English (=a nerve that has been crushed between two muscles etc, causing pain)
3 courage and confidence in a dangerous, difficult, or frightening situation
courage
[uncountable] lose your nerve (=suddenly become very nervous so that you cannot do what you intended to do) Jensen would've won if he hadn't lost his nerve.
Jensen would've won if he hadn't lost his nerve. hold/keep your nerve (=remain calm in a difficult situation) It's hard to keep your nerve when people keep interrupting you.
It's hard to keep your nerve when people keep interrupting you.4 if someone gets on your nerves, they annoy you, especially by doing something all the time : She's always moaning. It really gets on my nerves.
get on somebody's nerves
informalShe's always moaning. It really gets on my nerves.5 if you say someone has a nerve, you mean that they have done something unsuitable or impolite, without seeming to be embarrassed about behaving in this way [= cheek]:
lack of respect
[singular] spoken have the nerve to do something She lets me do all the work, and then she has the nerve to criticize my cooking.
She lets me do all the work, and then she has the nerve to criticize my cooking.6 to mention something that makes someone upset, angry, or embarrassed, especially accidentally : Without realizing, he had touched a raw nerve.
touch/hit a (raw) nerve
Without realizing, he had touched a raw nerve.7 the ability to be brave and calm in a dangerous or difficult situation : The job requires nerves of steel.
nerves of steel
The job requires nerves of steel.