nerve
- noun
- /nɜrv/
- I couldn't believe that he had the nerve to criticize me after his own mistakes.
And this guy, Can you believe the nerve?
- And this guy, Can you believe the nerve?
- I mean, he has some fucking nerve or magic mirror at his house.
- And I'm like, damn, I have nerve to ask for that, right?
- This company stands for diversity and uniqueness, nerve and talent.
- Sometimes they get mad that a black man has a nerve to ask for what his money's supposed to be.
Examples
-
And she still had the nerve to blame me for not taking the child's feelings into account.
Fiction book (1993) -
You've got a hell of a nerve, whoever you are.
-
This dude has the nerve to look at me and go, my bad.
-
And he had the nerve to call me.
-
- The nerve of some people!
-
I was so mad at the nerve of this guy putting his hand on me.
Fiction book (1990) -
Some nerve talkin' to me that way, Cash.
-
Look, I'd just like to say that you got some nerve coming in here and wasting my time and my brother Tony's time.
-
That's some nerve!
-
She showed a lot of nerve by challenging the manager's decision during the meeting.
Synonyms
Bold behaviour that shows no shame
Rude talk or behaviour that shows no respect
Rude boldness that shows no shame
Rude boldness that shows little respect for others
Rude confidence that shows a lack of respect for others
Shameless boldness that ignores what people consider proper
Speaking openly and boldly when it risks angering people in charge
Bold, rude behavior that shows no shame
Antonyms
Idioms
- Informal
Make someone feel upset or defensive by mentioning a sensitive subject
Compounds
- Specialized
A cell that sends electrical signals to carry messages between the brain and body
- NSFW
A very poisonous chemical used as a weapon that stops the nerves from working and makes people stop breathing
- Specialized
A tiny part of the body that sends feelings like touch or pain to the brain
- Specialized
A large thick cord that sends messages from the lower back down the back of each leg
- Specialized
A nerve that controls the muscles that move the face and carries feeling from it
- Specialized
A long thin part of the body that sends signals from the brain to the heart, lungs, stomach, and intestines
- Specialized
An electrical signal that travels along a nerve to carry messages in the body
- Specialized
A nerve that carries sound and balance signals from the inner ear to the brain
- Specialized
A group of cells that carry messages between the brain, spinal cord, and body
- Specialized
A long thin part in the arm by the elbow that sends messages to the hand and two small fingers
- Specialized
A thin body part that sends messages between the spinal cord and a body area
- Specialized
A thin cord in the neck that sends messages to the neck and arm muscles
- Specialized
A body part that sends messages from the brain and spine to make muscles move or glands work
- Specialized
Pressure on a nerve that causes pain, numbness, or muscle weakness
- Specialized
A group of long cells that carry signals between body parts and the brain
- Specialized
A large nerve running down the arm that makes wrist and finger muscles straighten
- Specialized
A long thin part that sends feelings from the skin to the brain and spinal cord
- Specialized
One of twelve pairs of nerves from the middle of the spine that go to the chest and back
- Specialized
A nerve near the elbow that gives feeling and movement to the side of the hand with the little finger
- Specialized
The nerve that carries sound and balance signals from the inner ear to the brain
- Specialized
A nerve that sends signals from the brain and spinal cord to muscles or glands
- Specialized
A group of nerves behind the stomach that controls organs in the belly
- Specialized
The nerve that carries sound and balance signals from the inner ear to the brain
- Specialized
A nerve that carries signals from parts that feel, like the skin, to the brain or spinal cord
- Specialized
A large nerve that comes from the lower back and sends signals to the front thigh muscles and skin
- Specialized
A large bundle that carries messages from the lower spine to the front of the thigh
- Specialized
A main nerve in the face that carries feeling and controls chewing muscles
- Specialized
A nerve in the head that carries smell from the nose to the brain
- Specialized
A tiny part of the skin that sends signals about pain and temperature
- Specialized
A nerve that controls a top eye muscle and helps the eye look down
- Specialized
A nerve fiber covered by a fatty layer that makes nerve signals travel faster
- Specialized
A thin thread that carries messages from the brain to a muscle to make it move
- Specialized
A large nerve in the upper arm that makes the wrist and fingers straighten
- Specialized
A nerve sending feeling from the throat and back of the tongue and helping control swallowing and the voice box
- NSFW
A very poisonous chemical weapon like sarin or tabun that stops nerves working quickly
- Specialized
A long thin part of a nerve that has a fatty layer that makes signals travel faster
- Specialized
A condition in which a nerve near a joint becomes pinched and causes pain and numbness
- Specialized
A way to numb one body part by injecting medicine near a nerve
- Specialized
Hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear or the part that sends sound to the brain
- Specialized
A brain nerve that helps you swallow, taste the back of the tongue, and move throat muscles
A very poisonous chemical weapon that stops the body's nerves working
- Archaic
A nerve that connects the brain to the voice box, heart, and stomach
- Specialized
A thin part of the body that carries feeling from the inner side of the leg and foot
- Specialized
The nerve that carries visual signals from the eye to the brain
- Specialized
A nerve that helps control heart, breathing, voice, and how the body breaks down food
- Specialized
A nerve in the face that carries feeling and controls chewing muscles
- Specialized
A part of the body that controls an eye muscle to move the eye down and to the side
How Bold
Surface Forms
Etymology
Nerve can mean rude or shocking boldness and comes from the same Latin nervus idea of 'strength'. A helpful way to remember this is that 'having the nerve' can be the bold strength to do something disrespectful, which is why the phrase often means someone was boldly rude.