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UK [ˈnɜː(r)vəs] / US [ˈnɜrvəs] adjective
Metaphor:
When you feel nervous it is like being pulled, tied or stretched tightly. When you relax, it is like becoming loose again. I was feeling a bit tense. ♦ I find running is a good way to release tension. ♦ Her voice was high and strained. ♦ There's no need to get so wound up about it. ♦ I've been really strung out lately. ♦ She's so highly-strung, she needs very sensitive handling. ♦ I felt taut and tense with nerves. ♦ I don't know why he gets so uptight about things. ♦ Her stomach seemed to be tying itself in knots. ♦ You should try to loosen up a bit. ♦ It's good to unwind at the end of the day. ♦ Just let go of all your worries. ♦ I told her to hang loose and stop worrying. ♦ It's a place where people can let their hair down. ➡ feeling
1) feeling excited and worried, or slightly afraid

Driving on mountain roads always makes me nervous.

get nervous:

I got very nervous waiting for my turn to be called.

nervous about:

She was nervous about walking home so late.

nervous of:

He's always been a little nervous of change.

a) showing that someone is feeling nervous

Callum gave a slightly nervous laugh.

b) a nervous illness or medical condition is caused by worry, or by working too hard, so that you feel excited when you want to relax

nervous exhaustion/strain

headaches caused by nervous tension

2) a nervous person becomes easily excited and reacts quickly to things in a way that shows they are not relaxed

a nervous, fidgety young man

3) relating to the system of nerves in your body

a nervous complaint

•

Derived words:
nervously
adverb

He shifted in his chair nervously.


nervousness
noun uncountable

English dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nervous — Nerv ous (n[ e]rv [u^]s), a. [L. nervosus sinewy, vigorous: cf. F. nerveux. See {Nerve}.] 1. Possessing nerve; sinewy; strong; vigorous. Nervous arms. Pope. [1913 Webster] 2. Possessing or manifesting vigor of mind; characterized by strength in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nervous — may refer to: The nervous system Nervous (song), a rockabilly/doo wop song first recorded by Gene Summers and His Rebels in 1958 Nervous Records, a UK record label Nervous Records (US), a US record label See also Nervousness , a song by the… …   Wikipedia

  • nervous — (adj.) c.1400, affecting the sinews, from L. nervosus sinewy, vigorous, from nervus sinew, nerve (see NERVE (Cf. nerve)). Meaning of or belonging to the nerves in the modern sense is from 1660s. Meaning suffering disorder of the nervous system is …   Etymology dictionary

  • nervous — index suspicious (distrustfui), unsettled Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • nervous — 1 *vigorous, lusty, energetic, strenuous Analogous words: forceful, forcible, potent, *powerful: *spirited, mettlesome: virile, manly (see MALE) 2 *impatient, restless, restive, unquiet, uneasy, fidgety, jumpy, jittery …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • nervous — [adj] anxious, fearful afraid, agitated, annoyed, apprehensive, basket case*, bothered, concerned, distressed, disturbed, edgy, excitable, fidgety, fitful, flustered, fussy*, hesitant, high strung*, hysterical, irritable, jittery*, jumpy*, nervy* …   New thesaurus

  • nervous — ► ADJECTIVE 1) easily agitated or alarmed. 2) apprehensive or anxious. 3) relating to or affecting the nerves. DERIVATIVES nervously adverb nervousness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • nervous — [nʉr′vəs] adj. [ME neruous < L nervosus] 1. Obs. strong; sinewy 2. vigorous in expression; animated 3. of the nerves 4. made up of or containing nerves 5. characterized by or having a disordered state of the nerves 6 …   English World dictionary

  • nervous — ner|vous W3S3 [ˈnə:vəs US ˈnə:r ] adj 1.) worried or frightened about something, and unable to relax →↑anxious nervous about ▪ She was so nervous about her exams that she couldn t sleep. ▪ I wish you d stop looking at me like that. You re making… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • nervous — nerv|ous [ nɜrvəs ] adjective ** 1. ) feeling excited and worried, or slightly afraid: ANXIOUS: Driving on icy mountain roads makes me nervous. get nervous: I got very nervous waiting for my turn to be called. nervous about: She was nervous about …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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