Collocations for nerve - noun
1. in the body
ADJ.
sensitive, trapped | facial, optic, spinal, etc.
VERB + NERVE
damage, strain, trap
I''ve trapped a nerve in my spine.
I''ve trapped a nerve in my spine.
NERVE + VERB
go, lead, run
The nerve runs from the eye to the brain.
The nerve runs from the eye to the brain.
transmit sth
The nerves transmit pain.
The nerves transmit pain.
throb
He lay awake, his nerves throbbing.
He lay awake, his nerves throbbing.
NERVE + NOUN
cell, end, ending, fibre, tissue | pathway | impulse | damage, injury | gas
PREP.
along a/the ~
The message travels along the nerve to the brain.
The message travels along the nerve to the brain.
~ in
He''s been off work with a trapped nerve in his back.
He''s been off work with a trapped nerve in his back.
~ to
Cutting the nerves to the stomach does not affect hunger.
Cutting the nerves to the stomach does not affect hunger.
PHRASES
every nerve in sb''s body
Intense pain shot through every nerve in his body.
Intense pain shot through every nerve in his body.
hit a nerve, touch a (sensitive/raw) nerve
(figurative) My remarks about divorce had unwittingly touched a raw nerve.
(figurative) My remarks about divorce had unwittingly touched a raw nerve.
2. nerves: mental state
ADJ.
good, steady | bad, frayed, ragged, shattered, taut
At the end of a day''s teaching, her nerves were absolutely shattered.
At the end of a day''s teaching, her nerves were absolutely shattered.
VERB + NERVE
stretch
Her nerves were stretched to breaking point.
Her nerves were stretched to breaking point.
NERVE + VERB
be on edge
After the bomb, my nerves were on edge.
After the bomb, my nerves were on edge.
jangle
His nerves jangled every time the phone rang.
His nerves jangled every time the phone rang.
stand
I''m not sure my nerves can stand another night like this.
I''m not sure my nerves can stand another night like this.
PREP.
~s for
Skydiving is all right for people who''ve got the nerves for it.
Skydiving is all right for people who''ve got the nerves for it.
PHRASES
a battle/war of nerves
The union has been fighting a war of nerves with the management over pay.
The union has been fighting a war of nerves with the management over pay.
get on sb''s nerves
His endless whining really gets on my nerves.
His endless whining really gets on my nerves.
nerves of steel
You need nerves of steel to be a good poker player.
You need nerves of steel to be a good poker player.
a strain on sb''s nerves
Looking after him while he was so ill has been a great strain on her nerves.
Looking after him while he was so ill has been a great strain on her nerves.
3. nerves: nervous state
ADJ.
exam, first-night
I''ve never suffered from first-night nerves.
I''ve never suffered from first-night nerves.
VERB + NERVE
calm, control, soothe, steady
She took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves.
She took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves.
suffer from
PHRASES
an attack of nerves
I had an attack of nerves just before I went on stage.
I had an attack of nerves just before I went on stage.
a bag/bundle/mass of nerves
By the time of the interview, I was a bundle of nerves.
By the time of the interview, I was a bundle of nerves.
4. courage
ADJ.
sufficient
VERB + NERVE
have
I didn''t have the nerve to ask.
I didn''t have the nerve to ask.
lack | lose
At the last minute she almost lost her nerve.
At the last minute she almost lost her nerve.
keep
He kept his nerve to win a thrilling match.
He kept his nerve to win a thrilling match.
find
You must find the nerve to ask for more money.
You must find the nerve to ask for more money.
take
It took a lot of nerve to stand up and speak.
It took a lot of nerve to stand up and speak.
NERVE + VERB
break, crack, fail (sb)
At the last moment her nerve failed her.
At the last moment her nerve failed her.
PHRASES
a failure/loss of nerve, a test of nerve
Singing in front of so many people was a real test of nerve.
Singing in front of so many people was a real test of nerve.