have a nerve
Meaning: To be rude or bold in a way that shocks others.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “She borrowed my car without asking; she's got a nerve.”
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: "Nerve" meant courage from the 18th century, and by the late 19th century also impudence or cheek.
Equivalents in other languages
- Spanish: Tener más cara que espalda — literally: To have more face than back
- Spanish: por la cara — literally: for the face
- French: Être gonflé — literally: To be inflated / not to be short of air
More idioms — Body & Senses
- get on someone's nerves — To annoy someone.
- knock someone's socks off — To impress or amaze someone greatly.
- throw one's weight around — To use one's power or importance in an overbearing way.
- swap spit — To kiss passionately (slang).
- hit the wall — To suddenly run out of energy.
- sit on one's hands — To do nothing when action is needed.
More English idioms
- nobody's fool — A sensible person who is not easily tricked.
- you could have knocked me down with a feather — I was extremely surprised.
- swing the lead — To avoid work, especially by pretending to be ill.
- a fat lot of good that does me — That is of no use to me at all.
- no sweat — No problem; that's easy.
- dumb as a box of rocks — Very stupid.