1
general::
noun in the body ADJ. sensitive, trapped | facial, optic, spinal, etc. VERB + NERVE damage, strain, trap I've trapped a nerve in my spine. NERVE + VERB go, lead, run The nerve runs from the eye to the brain. | transmit sth The nerves transmit pain. | throb He lay awake, his nerves throbbing. NERVE + NOUN cell, end, ending, fibre, tissue | pathway | impulse | damage, injury | gas PREP. along a/the ~ The message travels along the nerve to the brain. | ~ in He's been off work with a trapped nerve in his back. | ~ to Cutting the nerves to the stomach does not affect hunger. PHRASES every nerve in sb's body Intense pain shot through every nerve in his body. | hit a nerve, touch a (sensitive/raw) nerve (figurative) My remarks about divorce had unwittingly touched a raw nerve. nerves: mental state ADJ. good, steady | bad, frayed, ragged, shattered, taut At the end of a day's teaching, her nerves were absolutely shattered. VERB + NERVE stretch Her nerves were stretched to breaking point. NERVE + VERB be on edge After the bomb, my nerves were on edge. | jangle His nerves jangled every time the phone rang. | stand I'm not sure my nerves can stand another night like this. PREP. ~s for Skydiving is all right for people who've got the nerves for it. PHRASES a battle/war of nerves The union has been fighting a war of nerves with the management over pay. | get on sb's nerves His endless whining really gets on my nerves. | nerves of steel You need nerves of steel to be a good poker player. | a strain on sb's nerves Looking after him while he was so ill has been a great strain on her nerves. nerves: nervous state ADJ. exam, first-night I've never suffered from first-night nerves. VERB + NERVE calm, control, soothe, steady She took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves. | suffer from PHRASES an attack of nerves I had an attack of nerves just before I went on stage. | a bag/bundle/mass of nerves By the time of the interview, I was a bundle of nerves. courage ADJ. sufficient VERB + NERVE have I didn't have the nerve to ask. | lack | lose At the last minute she almost lost her nerve. | keep He kept his nerve to win a thrilling match. | find You must find the nerve to ask for more money. | take It took a lot of nerve to stand up and speak. NERVE + VERB break, crack, fail (sb) At the last moment her nerve failed her. PHRASES a failure/loss of nerve, a test of nerve Singing in front of so many people was a real test of nerve.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
2
general::
nerve
verbs
calm/steady somebody's nerves
(= make someone feel less worried or nervous )
• She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves.
settle/soothe somebody's nerves
(= make someone feel less worried or nervous )
• She hoped that a cup of tea would soothe her nerves.
suffer from nerves
(= often feel worried or nervous )
• He suffered from nerves and could no longer perform on stage.
your nerves jangle
(= you feel extremely nervous or worried )
• Suddenly she was wide awake, her nerves jangling.
NOUN + nerves
exam nerves
• Quite a few of the students suffered from exam nerves.
first-night nerves
(= before the first night of a performance )
• She always suffered from first-night nerves.
phrases
somebody's nerves are on edge
(= they feel nervous or worried about what might happen )
• His nerves were on edge as he entered the dark room.
somebody's nerves are tattered/frayed/shattered
(= they feel very nervous or worried )
• Everyone's nerves were frayed by the end of the week.
somebody's nerves are stretched (to breaking point)
(= they feel very nervous or worried )
• Her nerves were stretched almost to breaking point as she waited.
be a bag/bundle of nerves
(= to feel extremely nervous or worried )
• I was a bag of nerves during the interview.
be shaking with nerves
(= to be extremely nervous )
• Just before the audition he was shaking with nerves.
be in a state of nerves
(= to be in a nervous condition )
• She was in such a state of nerves that she jumped at every noise.
an attack of nerves
(= a time when you feel very nervous )
• Harrison had an attack of nerves before the match.
nerve 2
verbs
have the nerve to do something
• I just didn't have the nerve to tell them the truth.
find the nerve to do something
• He couldn't find the nerve to ask her out.
hold/keep your nerve
(= remain calm and confident in a difficult situation )
• The team held their nerve and went on to win.
lose your nerve
(= suddenly lose the courage or confidence to do something )
• I wanted to ask him the question, but I lost my nerve.
test somebody's nerve
(= test whether someone will have the courage to do something difficult )
• The next few days would test their nerve to the limit.
somebody's nerve fails (him/her)
(= someone suddenly loses the courage or confidence to do something )
• At the last moment, her nerve failed her.
somebody's nerve breaks
(= someone loses the courage to do something or continue something )
• The police hoped his nerve would break and he'd give himself away.
phrases
it takes nerve to do something
(= something requires a lot of courage or confidence )
• It takes nerve to stand up for what you believe.
a failure/loss of nerve
(= a situation in which someone lacks the courage to do something )
• They accused the government of a loss of nerve.
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