Tra từ nerve - Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

nerve [nerve nerves nerved nerving] noun, verb BrE [nɜːv] NAmE [nɜːrv]
noun
1. countable any of the long threads that carry messages between the brain and parts of the body, enabling you to move, feel pain, etc
•the optic nerve
• He's off work with a trapped nerve in his neck.
•nerve cells
•nerve endings
• Every nerve in her body was tense.

2. nervesplural feelings of worry or anxiety
• Even after years as a singer, he still suffers from nerves before a performance.
•I need something to calm/steady my nerves.
• Everyone's nerves were on edge (= everyone felt ↑tense ).
•He lives on his nerves (= is always worried).
•By the end of the meal her nerves were completely frayed.
3. uncountable the courage to do sth difficult or dangerous
Syn: ↑guts
•It took a lot of nerve to take the company to court.
•I was going to have a go at parachuting but lost my nerve at the last minute.
•He kept his nerve to win the final set 6–4.
4. singular, uncountable (informal)a way of behaving that other people think is rude or not appropriate
Syn: ↑cheek
•I don't know how you have the nerve to show your face after what you said!
•He's got a nerve asking us for money!
•‘Then she demanded to see the manager!’ ‘ What a nerve! ’
more at brass neck/nerve at ↑brass, strain every nerve/sinew at ↑strain _v., a war of nerves at ↑war _n.

Word Origin:
late Middle English (also in the sense ‘tendon, sinew’): from Latin nervus; related to Greek neuron ‘nerve’ (see ↑neuron).

Example Bank:
•At the end of a day's teaching, her nerves were absolutely shattered.
•At the last minute she almost lost her nerve.
•By the time of the interview, I was a bundle of nerves.
•Caring for him while he was so ill has been a great strain on her nerves.
•Cutting the nerves to the stomach does not affect hunger.
•He damaged a nerve in his spine.
•He kept his nerve to win a thrilling game.
•He lay awake, his nerves throbbing.
•He uncharacteristically allowed nerves to get the better of him in yesterday's game.
•He's been off work with a trapped nerve in his back.
•Her nerves were shot from all the things happening around her.
•Her nerves were stretched to breaking point.
•His endless whining really gets on my nerves.
•His nerves jangled every time the phone rang.
•I didn't have the nerve to ask.
•I had an attack of nerves just before I went on stage.
•I'm not sure my nerves can stand another night like this.
•I've never suffered from first-night nerves.
•I've trapped a nerve in my spine.
•Intense pain shot through every nerve in his body.
•It gave me time to calm my jittery nerves before meeting her.
•It took a lot of nerve to stand up and speak.
•My remarks about divorce had unwittingly touched a raw nerve.
•She took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves.
•Singing in front of so many people was a real test of nerve.
•Skydiving is all right for people who've got the nerves for it.
•Steeling my nerve, I jumped the first bar.
•The message travels along the nerve to the brain.
•The nerve runs from the eye to the brain.
•The nerves transmit pain.
•The union has been fighting a war of nerves with the management over pay.
•The vagus nerve controls heart rate and breathing.
•You must find the nerve to ask for more money.
•You need nerves of steel to be a good poker player.
•She kept her nerve to win the final set 6–4.
Idioms: ↑a bag of nerves ▪ ↑get on somebody's nerves ▪ ↑have nerves of steel ▪ ↑hit a nerve

verb ~ yourself for sth/to do sth
to give yourself the courage or strength to do sth
• He nerved himself to ask her out.
Verb forms:

Word Origin:
late Middle English (also in the sense ‘tendon, sinew’): from Latin nervus; related to Greek neuron ‘nerve’ (see ↑neuron).