Words / B1

NURV/nɜːv/

Nerve is courage in a difficult moment; a nerve is also a body fibre; nerves (plural) means anxiety. Nervous is already in the dictionary. Courage is the everyday twin for the bravery sense. Speaking tests: she lost her nerve.

Meaning

Courage in a difficult situation; also a fibre that carries messages in the body; nerves means anxiety.

Examples

• “She lost her nerve in the speaking test and went silent.”
• “A trapped nerve is the medical sense; get on someone’s nerves is informal irritation.”

Good to know

lose / hold your nerve. Medical: a nerve. Anxiety: nerves. Informal: get on someone’s nerves. Exams / NHS. Uncountable courage; countable fibres.

Near in meaning

courage

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