Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Offensively bold or impudent: Describes behavior that is aggressively confident in a way that is rude or disrespectful.
   • Showing or requiring courage and contempt of danger: Describes actions that are daring, bold, or requiring nerve.
   • Being in a tense or nervous state: Describes a person who is anxious, jittery, or easily agitated.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective (Offensively bold):
  • It was a nervy thing to say to the boss.
  • The nervy reporter asked the politician a very personal question.
• Adjective (Courageous/daring):
  • The pilot made a nervy landing in bad weather.
  • Her nervy performance under pressure won her the championship.
• Adjective (Tense/nervous):
  • He felt nervy before the big presentation.
  • The constant noise from the construction made everyone feel nervy.

Advanced Usage

• "To be/get nervy about something": To feel anxious or tense about a specific situation.
  • She's getting nervy about the upcoming exam results.
• "A nervy display/performance": A performance that demonstrates boldness or daring, often in a high-pressure situation.
  • The team's nervy comeback in the final minutes secured the win.

Variants and Related Words

• Nerve (n): Courage, boldness; or a bundle of fibers in the body.
  • It takes a lot of nerve to speak in public.
• Nerves (n, plural): Feelings of anxiety or tension.
  • I had a bad case of nerves before the interview.
• Nervous (adj): Easily agitated or anxious; relating to the nerves.
  • She has a nervous disposition.

Synonyms

• Impudent: Not showing due respect for another person; impertinent. (For the "offensively bold" sense)
• Audacious: Showing a willingness to take surprisingly bold risks. (For the "courageous" sense)
• Jittery: Nervous or unable to relax. (For the "tense state" sense)

Related Phrases

• Have the nerve to do something: To have the audacity or boldness to do something, often something surprising or rude.
  • He had the nerve to ask for a raise on his first day.
• Get on someone's nerves: To irritate or annoy someone.
  • That constant tapping is really getting on my nerves.

Adjective

1. offensively bold
   • a brash newcomer disputed the age-old rules for admission to the club
   • a nervy thing to say
2. showing or requiring courage and contempt of danger
   • the nervy feats of mountaineers
3. being in a tense state