nerve

nerve [nɜ:v]

1. noun

   a. (in body, tooth) nerf m ; (in leaf) nervure f

• his speech struck a raw nerve son discours a touché un point sensible

   b. ( = courage) sang-froid m

• to keep one's nerve garder son sang-froid

• he never got his nerve back il n'a jamais repris confiance en lui

• I haven't the nerve to do that je n'ai pas le courage de faire ça

• he lost his nerve le courage lui a manqué

   c. ( = cheek) (inf) culot (inf) m

• you've got a nerve! tu as du culot (inf)

• of all the nerve! quel culot ! (inf)

• he had the nerve to say that ... il a eu le culot (inf) de dire que ...

2. plural noun

nerves ( = nervousness) nervosité f

• it's only nerves c'est de la nervosité

• she suffers from nerves elle a les nerfs fragiles

• to have an attack of nerves (before performance, exam) avoir le trac (inf)

• to be a bundle of nerves être un paquet de nerfs

• his nerves were on edge il avait les nerfs à vif

• he/the noise gets on my nerves il/ce bruit me tape sur les nerfs (inf)

• to have nerves of steel avoir des nerfs d'acier

• war of nerves guerre f des nerfs

3. compounds

► nerve centre noun centre m nerveux

► nerve-racking adjective très éprouvant (pour les nerfs)

* * *

[nɜːv] 1.

noun

1) Anatomy nerf m; Botany nervure f

2) (courage) courage m; (confidence) assurance f

to keep one's nerve — conserver son sang-froid

to recover one's nerve — retrouver son assurance

3) (colloq) (cheek) culot (colloq) m

2.

nerves plural noun (nervousness) nerfs mpl; (stage fright) trac (colloq) m

to have an attack of nerves — faire une crise de nerfs

it's only nerves! — c'est nerveux!

his nerves were on edge — il était sur les nerfs

to calm somebody's nerves — calmer quelqu'un

3.

transitive verb

to nerve oneself to do — s'armer de courage pour faire

••

to touch ou hit a raw nerve — toucher un point sensible

to strain every nerve to do — s'évertuer à faire

English-French dictionary. 2013.