nerve
B2Neutral to formal for anatomical sense; informal for figurative sense meaning 'audacity'.
Definition
Meaning
a bundle of fibres in the body that transmits signals of sensation and instruction between the brain/spinal cord and other parts of the body; figuratively, courage, boldness, or audacity.
Used to refer to one's mental or emotional strength, resilience, or steadiness; can also mean impudent boldness (e.g., 'He had the nerve to ask for more'). In botany, a vein in a leaf.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a countable noun for the biological structure; often uncountable for the figurative sense of 'courage' or 'audacity' (e.g., 'It takes nerve to do that'). The plural 'nerves' often refers to a state of anxiety or agitation (e.g., 'I have a case of nerves before the speech').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Slight preference in UK for 'nerve' in the idiom 'a bag/bundle of nerves' (highly anxious person). The phrase 'war of nerves' (psychological warfare) is equally common.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. The figurative sense implying audacity ('You've got a nerve!') is common and informal in both.
Frequency
Anatomical sense is equally frequent. Figurative senses are very common in spoken language in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have the nerve to INF (audacity)nerve oneself to INF (prepare mentally)get on someone's nerves (annoy)touch/hit a nerve (cause emotional reaction)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a bundle of nerves”
- “get on someone's nerves”
- “have a nerve / the nerve”
- “hit/touch/strike a nerve”
- “lose one's nerve”
- “nerve-racking”
- “strain every nerve”
- “war of nerves”
- “nerves of steel”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically for risk-taking or resilience, e.g., 'It took nerve to launch the product during the recession.'
Academic
Primarily in biological/medical contexts (neuroscience, anatomy).
Everyday
Common in figurative senses: expressing annoyance ('He gets on my nerves') or audacity ('The nerve of him!'). Also for anxiety ('I'm a bundle of nerves').
Technical
Specific anatomical names (e.g., 'vagus nerve'), descriptions of nerve function, damage, or conditions like 'nerve conduction study'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She had to nerve herself to look at the accident report.
- He nerved his way through the hostile interview.
American English
- He nerved himself to ask for a significant raise.
- You'll need to nerve up before confronting them.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form. 'Nervously' is from 'nervous'.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form. 'Nervously' is from 'nervous'.)
adjective
British English
- The nerve damage was permanent.
- It was a nerve-racking wait for the results.
American English
- The nerve agent attack was condemned globally.
- She found the silence in the old house nerve-wracking.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Dentists use medicine so you don't feel pain in the nerve.
- Loud noises get on my nerves.
- The sciatic nerve is the largest in the human body.
- It takes a lot of nerve to speak in front of a large audience.
- Stop tapping your pen - it's getting on my nerves!
- The surgeon had to operate carefully to avoid the optic nerve.
- After the criticism, she nerved herself to try again.
- His careless comment about the accident touched a raw nerve.
- The politician's evasive answers struck a nerve with the frustrated electorate.
- Despite the market volatility, the CEO's nerves of steel reassured the investors.
- The prolonged war of nerves between the negotiating parties finally ended.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a NERVous person whose NERVEs are jangling. Both words share the root 'nerv-' relating to fibers/sensation.
Conceptual Metaphor
NERVES ARE STRINGS/CABLES (transmitting signals); COURAGE IS A PHYSICAL SUBSTANCE IN THE NERVES ('He has nerves of steel'); ANNOYANCE IS PHYSICAL AGITATION ON THE NERVES ('Getting on my nerves').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend: Russian 'нерв' (nerv) refers primarily to the anatomical structure or a state of anxiety ('nerves'). The English figurative sense meaning 'audacity' or 'cheek' ('the nerve!') does not map directly and can cause misunderstanding.
- The phrase 'get on someone's nerves' is idiomatically 'действовать на нервы' (deystvovat' na nervy).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'nerve' as uncountable for the anatomical structure (incorrect: *'He has damage to nerve'; correct: '...to a nerve/the nerves').
- Confusing 'nerve' (courage) with 'nervousness' (anxiety).
- Using the singular for the anxiety sense (incorrect: *'I have a nerve'; correct: 'I have nerves' or 'I'm nervous').
Practice
Quiz
What does 'get on someone's nerves' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Nerve' is primarily a noun (anatomical structure or courage). 'Nervous' is an adjective describing a state of anxiety or relating to the nerves (e.g., nervous system).
Both spellings are accepted and commonly used. 'Nerve-racking' is the original form (suggesting something that racks/stretches the nerves), but 'nerve-wracking' is now very common.
Yes, but it is less common and somewhat literary. It means 'to brace oneself mentally' (e.g., 'He nerved himself for the challenge').
It is an idiom meaning exceptional courage, calmness, and resilience under extreme pressure.
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