http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishVocabularyIdiom-Questions/Forum29.htmHelp with defining words and idioms, and new words and idioms that you've learntenXMOD (Build: 3615.39139)http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htm#765400Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:09:10 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:765400Patrick Lockerby0http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htm#765400http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-765400.xmlWell, at the risk of repeating myself, I think "The nerve of him!" is 95% pejorative. Also, "You've/He's got a lot of nerve," with the stress on the pronoun is pejorative. With the stress on "nerve," it could be used to heap praise on someone. There's always the possibility that any such expression can be used tongue-in-cheek in a cute or sarcastic way, not necessarily intended as a criticism. My New England upbringing exposed me to frequent use of the expression, both with and without "lots of." I really feel that the "laudatory" examples which each of you has/have included are out of order in relation to the OP. Best regards, - A. "It takes a lot of nerve to...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htm#765200Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:46:09 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:765200Avangi1http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htm#765200http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-765200.xmlWell, at the risk of repeating myself, I think "The nerve of him!" is 95% pejorative. Also, "You've/He's got a lot of nerve," with the stress on the pronoun is pejorative. With the stress on "nerve," it could be used to heap praise on someone. There's always the possibility that any such expression can be used tongue-in-cheek in a cute or sarcastic way, not necessarily intended as a criticism. My New England upbringing exposed me to frequent use of the expression, both with and without "lots of." I really feel that the "laudatory" examples which each of you has/have included are out of order in relation to the OP. Best regards, - A. "It takes a lot of nerve to...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htm#764896Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:37:07 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:764896optilang2http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htm#764896http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-764896.xmlHi I say - 'you've got a nerve ..............' 'It takes a lot of nerve .........' I might use 'you've got a lot of nerve ......' if I was impressed by someone's actions. 'You did a bungee jump - wow - you've got a lot of nerve - I don't think I could ever do that'http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htm#764835Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:59:52 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:764835cwtch3http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htm#764835http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-764835.xmlYou've got a nerve bringing my car back like that: full of rubbish and with an empty tank!" Is this a British phrasing? In the US, we almost always would add 'lot of' to the sentence similar to the next sentence. You've got a lot of nerve bringing my car back like that: full of rubbish and with an empty tank! We would say, 'that takes nerve' or 'the nerve of him.'http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htm#764806Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:33:49 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:764806Patrick Lockerby4http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htm#764806http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-764806.xmlSome examples, Avangi: "You've got a nerve bringing my car back like that: full of rubbish and with an empty tank!" "It takes a lot of nerve to work in bomb disposal; or politics." A reply to a cheeky comment: "Well, of all the nerve!" alternatively "The nerve of it!"http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htm#764535Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:43:20 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:764535Avangi5http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htm#764535http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-764535.xmlIt's used just as you have it. A person with this kind of nerve (lack of fear) does not observe the formalities of etiquette. He speaks his mind regardless of whom he affronts or offends or insults. Use the expression after someone commits a blatent act of selfishness, or criticizes someone for doing something improper, which he himself has often done. Geez, I can't think of a good example. When a platter is first passed around at the dinner table, and the second person takes all the meat for himself, leaving nothing for the others, that would be "nerve." Re the examples in Ray's site, many give the person credit for bravery. I think in the usage you quote, the expression is always used as a pejorative. (Well,...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htm#764530Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:33:54 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:764530RayH6http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htm#764530http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-764530.xmlFrom Answers.com: Brazen boldness; effrontery: had the nerve to deny it. Here's a site that has several examples of usage: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/nervehttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htmThu, 04 Jun 2009 03:20:39 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:764524Kevin X7http://www.englishforums.com/English/TheNerveOfHim/jckhr/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments29-764524.xmlHi guys, I have problems figuring out what exactly the phrase " The nerve of him! " means and how to use it. Thanks for your comments.