have the nerve to (do something)

have the nerve to (do something)

To have the will to do something bold, daring, or impudent. Wow, I can't believe that intern had the nerve to ask for a raise on her first day!See also: have, nerve

have a nerve

Also, have some nerve. Have audacity, show effrontery. For example, You have a nerve telling me what to do, or She had some nerve, criticizing the people who donated their time. The related have the nerve is used with an infinitive, as in He had the nerve to scold his boss in public. This idiom uses nerve in the sense of "courage" or "audacity." [Late 1800s] See also: have, nerve

have a ˈnerve

(informal) behave in a way that other people think is rude or not appropriate: She had a nerve, arriving half an hour late for the meeting. ♢ She borrowed my new bicycle without asking. What a nerve!See also: have, nerve

have the nerve to do something

(British English also have the face to do something) (informal) do something that other people think is rude or not appropriate without feeling embarrassed or ashamed: He had the nerve to ask me for a pay rise after only three weeks in the job. ♢ I don’t know how she’s got the face to criticize my designs. She doesn’t know anything at all about architecture.See also: have, nerve, something