get enough nerve up

get enough nerve up (to do something)

To muster or draw upon one's courage or resolve to do something. I wanted to ask Mary Sue to the prom, but I couldn't get enough nerve up. I hope Jonathan finally gets enough nerve up to ask his boss for a raise. I can't believe I finally got enough nerve up to perform in the talent show!

See also: enough, get, nerve, up

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

get enough nerve up (to do something)

 and get enough courage up (to do something); get enough guts up (to do something); get enough pluck up (to do something); get enough spunk up (to do something); get the nerve up (to do something); get the courage up (to do something); get the guts up (to do something); get the pluck up (to do something); get the spunk up (to do something)

Fig. to work up enough courage to do something. I hope I can get enough nerve up to ask her for her autograph. I wanted to do it, but I couldn't get up enough nerve. I thought he would never get up the courage to ask me for a date.

See also: enough, get, nerve, up

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.