nerves of steel

The ability to stay calm at all times, even during pressure-filled situations. If you're going to be a neurosurgeon, you need to have nerves of steel—there's no time to panic when you're operating on someone's brain. My mother had nerves of steel, and she never backed down from danger.

nerves of steel

Fig. very steady nerves; great patience and courage. I was scared to death, but Fred, who has nerves of steel, faced the thugs bravely.

nerves of steel

If someone has nerves of steel, they do not get nervous or frightened even in very difficult or dangerous situations. You need nerves of steel in this business and I've got them. You need nerves of steel to be a formula one driver.

See also: nerve, of, steel

References in classic literature ?

I had the muscles of a prize fighter and nerves of steel.

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To have been indifferent to the companionship of the single gentleman would have been tantamount to being gifted with nerves of steel.

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He had nerves of steel, this man; for though the whole weight of the affair was on him his manner was as cool and unconcerned as ever.

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The smoke and shouting were enough to shake nerves of steel.

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He has nerves of steel, and yet I know that he has hardly slept since this terrible event.

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Nick Crane (below) follows in the footsteps of the Victorians as he seeks out sea caves in Jersey that took nerves of steel to reach, and Ian McMillan is on Scotland's Ayrshire coast where he delves into the story of Sawney Bean.

BEST OF THE BOX

Houston showed nerves of steel to overcome both he and Bebb, the three of them friends from their time on Tour.

Houston wins Welsh National

McGill showed nerves of steel in his first-round win over fellow Scot Stephen Maguire, making a century in the decider.

SELBY EXIT A DREAM FOR MCGILL; SNOOKER

FOR those with nerves of steel, the Centre for Life centre in Newcastle will be adding to the mood over Halloween with a new adrenalin-pumping 4D motion ride for visitors.

Take a seat - if you dare

Follow the latest from the snooker the Crucible, RYAN Day was so nearly the victim of a famous Crucible comeback in the World Snooker Championship first round - and he admits it took nerves of steel to halt Stephen Maguire's charge.

Ryan is mighty in Crucible decider

And Scotland striker Griffiths showed nerves of steel.

replay

Sanskar had to come up with an extraordinary effort and nerves of steel to overcome the determination of third seed Abbinav Sankar who stretched the second seed before bowing out fighting in the tie breaker.

Sanskar storms into under-10 final

According to Sport24, Europe were leading 14-13 and needing just a half point for victory, and Francesco Molinari, who also sunk the winnning putt to give Europe the Ryder Cup last year at Medinah, again showed nerves of steel under pressure.

Europe beats Great Britain, Ireland to win Seve trophy for first time since 2000

Williams showed nerves of steel to, first, draw the sides level and, then, with the final kick of the clash, the Wales Under-20 star stroked home to clinch the win.

LLANELLI 29 LLANDOVERY 26 LLANELLI [...]

Williams' score made it a one-point game and Dan Biggar showed nerves of steel to land the difficult conversion, etching the Ospreys into the record books as the first team to win four league titles.