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.
- 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
文法句型
nerve + verb (send/carry/connect)
用法筆記
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'.
常見錯誤
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.
It takes a lot of nerve to leave a stable job and start your own company from nothing.
- cowardice
lack of courage in the face of danger or difficulty
文法句型
have the nerve + to-infinitive
take nerve
require nerve
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
The singer admitted that she still gets stage nerves before every single performance.
- calm
the opposite emotional state; having no anxiety at all
文法句型
one's nerves are + adjective
calm/settle/steady one's nerves
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
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.
- annoyance
a more general term; 'nerves' emphasizes the cumulative effect of repeated irritation
- patience
the ability to stay calm without getting irritated
文法句型
get on someone's nerves
someone's nerves are frayed
用法筆記
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.
You need steady nerve to be a paramedic and stay calm when every second counts.
- 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
文法句型
keep/hold your nerve
lose your nerve
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
❌ '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.
- politeness
behaviour that follows social rules and shows respect for others
文法句型
have the nerve + to-infinitive
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
❌ '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.
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.
- 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
文法句型
nerve + reflexive pronoun + to-infinitive
用法筆記
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'.