nettle
(netəl )
Word forms: nettles , nettling , nettled
1. countable noun
Nettles are wild plants which have leaves covered with fine hairs that sting you when you touch them.
The nettles stung their legs.
...numerous clumps of stinging nettles dotted across the meadow.
2. verb
If you are nettled by something, you are annoyed or offended by it.
He was nettled by her manner. [be VERB-ed]
It was the suggestion that he might alter course to win an election that really nettled him. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: irritate, provoke, annoy, gall
3. grasp the nettle phrase [VERB inflects, oft PHR of n/-ing]
If you grasp the nettle, you deal with a problem, or do something that is unpleasant, quickly and in a determined way. [mainly British]
The government should grasp the nettle of devaluation.
Image of nettle
© Roman Pelesh, Shutterstock
Idioms:
grasp the nettle [mainly British]
to deal with a problem or unpleasant task quickly and in a determined way
It's better to grasp the nettle, speak to your superior and make it clear you regret your mistake and are determined it will never happen again.
Easy Learning Idioms Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Translations:
Chinese: 荨麻, 使恼怒
Japanese: イラクサ, いらいらさせる
- talented songwriter
- talented squad
- talented staff
- talented student
- talented team
- talented writer
- talented youngster
- talent pool
- talent scout
- talent search
- talent shortage
- talent show
- talent showcase
- tale of adventure
- tale of tragedy
- tale of triumph
- tale of woe
- tales abound
- tale unfolds
- talisman
- talk
- talk a blue streak
- talk about sth
- talk around
- talkative