nerves
nerves — noun
1. the thin, thread-like parts of the body that carry electrical signals between th
the thin, thread-like parts of the body that carry electrical signals between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body, allowing you to feel sensations, move your muscles, and control your organs
The surgeon carefully repaired the damaged nerve in Diego's wrist after the motorcycle accident.
A pinched nerve in her lower back caused Nia sharp pain whenever she bent down.
common collocations: pinched nerve, damaged nerve
Each nerve in the body contains bundles of axons wrapped in protective tissue.
The dentist injected a numbing agent near the nerve so Beatriz would not feel pain.
- neuron
a single nerve cell; more technical and specific than 'nerve', which refers to the whole fiber bundle
用法筆記
The anatomical sense is usually countable ("one nerve", "several nerves") and appears in medical or scientific contexts. The figurative senses below are uncountable or fixed phrases.
常見錯誤
2. a feeling of worry, fear, or unease that you experience before or during a stres
a feeling of worry, fear, or unease that you experience before or during a stressful event, such as an exam, a performance, or an important meeting
The night before her piano recital, Ava could not fall asleep because of nerves.
Rania took three deep breaths, and her nerves gradually began to settle.
collocation: calm / settle one's nerves
Examiners know that candidates often suffer from nerves during driving tests and make allowances.
Lukas's nerves got the better of him, and he forgot his prepared speech.
A warm cup of tea helped calm Esme's nerves before her big presentation.
- nervousness
more formal; describes the feeling itself rather than the state of having it
- anxiety
broader and more clinical; can refer to long-term worry, not just pre-event jitters
- butterflies
informal; describes the fluttering feeling in the stomach rather than the general state
- calm
the opposite emotional state — peace and relaxation
用法筆記
Always plural in form when referring to anxiety ("my nerves were bad"), but takes a plural verb ("his nerves were frayed"). Used in fixed expressions: "suffer from nerves", "a case of nerves", "calm / steady one's nerves".
常見錯誤
3. the ability to keep a calm state of mind and not panic when facing danger, inten
the ability to keep a calm state of mind and not panic when facing danger, intense pressure, or a difficult situation — shown especially in the fixed phrase "nerves of steel"
The firefighter kept her nerves steady as she carried the child down the burning ladder.
Omar has nerves of steel; he stayed completely calm when the plane hit turbulence.
fixed phrase: nerves of steel
It takes strong nerves to work as an emergency doctor and make life-or-death decisions.
The chess grandmaster's nerves never wavered, even when she was two pawns behind.
- panic
a sudden loss of control opposite to steady nerves
用法筆記
This sense refers to stamina and emotional resilience rather than fear. The phrase "nerves of steel" is the most common expression. Unlike sense 2 (anxiety), this sense describes a positive quality — the ability to stay composed under pressure.
常見錯誤
4. rude or shocking confidence; the willingness to say or do something that most pe
rude or shocking confidence; the willingness to say or do something that most people would find annoying, disrespectful, or unreasonable
Kwame had the nerve to say his boss's new policy was a waste of time.
pattern: have the nerve + to-infinitive (criticising)
Mira had the nerve to show up at the party after insulting the host.
The customer had the nerve to demand a refund on a dress worn twice.
You have a lot of nerve, criticising my cooking when you cannot cook yourself.
- timidity
lack of confidence or courage — the opposite of boldness
文法句型
have the nerve + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Almost always used in the construction "have the nerve (to do something)" or "have a lot of nerve". Strongly negative or disapproving — the speaker is expressing annoyance at the person's boldness. Not used in positive contexts ("good nerve" is wrong for this sense).
常見錯誤
5. a subject or topic that causes a strong emotional reaction, such as anger, embar
a subject or topic that causes a strong emotional reaction, such as anger, embarrassment, pain, or defensiveness, especially when it reminds someone of something unpleasant
The comedian's joke about local politics clearly struck a nerve with the audience.
fixed phrase: strike a nerve
When David mentioned the layoffs, he hit a nerve with colleagues who were still worried.
fixed phrase: hit a nerve
Asking about her divorce touched a raw nerve, so Elena quickly changed the subject.
The article about rising rents struck a nerve among long-time residents of the neighbourhood.
- sore point
a topic someone finds embarrassing or painful to discuss
- sensitive topic
neutral description; a subject that requires careful handling
- safe topic
a subject that does not cause any emotional reaction
文法句型
hit / strike / touch a nerve
用法筆記
Most commonly appears in the verb phrases "hit a nerve", "strike a nerve", or "touch a nerve". The variation "touch a raw nerve" implies the person is already sensitive about the topic. The subject of the verb is typically a comment, joke, question, or article — something someone says or writes.