to nerve
- verb
- /nɜrv/
- Nor could Beechie nerve himself to make an advance despite his growing desperation.
- nerve oneself to try
Examples
-
Nerving himself, Myles collected his document bag before he dipped another antacid from his pouch and gobbled it.
Fiction book (1992) -
Clenching his hands to nerve himself, he walked forward and knelt beside the young woman.
Fiction book (1996) -
He had to nerve himself before running a hand down his face.
Fiction book (2001) -
Only the thought of his father, a soldier afraid of nothing, nerved him to go on.
Fiction book (2001) -
A warrior, nerving himself, rushed in on Andrew, battle-ax raised high.
Fiction book (1990) -
Nerving himself, he tried to pull it out, but fell backward weeping from the pain.
Fiction book (1990) -
He mounted the porch, reached for the spike that hung beside the great iron triangle, nerved himself, and struck.
Fiction book (1994) -
For a moment, the Mag Comm hesitated; then, despite growing anxiety, it nerved itself and looped the request through one of its circuits, effectively cutting the connection.
Fiction book (1992) -
She needed to nerve herself before jumping off the diving board for the first time.
-
He took a deep breath to nerve himself before giving his speech to the large audience.
Synonyms
To make yourself ready to face something difficult
To prepare yourself to face something unpleasant or difficult
To get ready mentally for a difficult task
To prepare yourself mentally for something difficult or unpleasant
Get ready in your mind to face something unpleasant
Idioms
- Informal
Make someone feel upset or defensive by mentioning a sensitive subject
Phrasal Verbs
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 Prepared
- Informal
Surface Forms
Etymology
Nerve as a verb comes from the same root nervus meaning 'strength', so to 'nerve' yourself is to gather your inner strength or courage before doing something hard.