nerves of steel

The ability to stay calm at all times, even during pressure-filled situations. Steel is known for being very strong. 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

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

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References in classic literature ?

I had the muscles of a prize fighter and nerves of steel. Today I turn the scale at ten stone and am afraid to be alone in the dark."

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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. Never did chaise inclose, or horses draw, such a restless gentleman as he.

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To face that savage mountain of onrushing ferocity, to stand unshaken before the hideous fangs that he knew were bared in slavering blood-thirstiness, though he could not see them, required nerves of steel; but of such were the nerves of Carthoris of Helium.

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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. She responded beautifully.

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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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Showing nerves of steel in the decider, Imee Hernandez nailed the marginal hits that denied the Lady Blazers' comeback and lifted the Golden Tigresses to their second straight victory in the Premier Volleyball League Season 3 Collegiate Conference.

Rookie shows way for UST in collegiate volleyball tilt

Thomas Nelson, a division of publishing group HarperCollins, revealed on Tuesday that its imprint W Publishing Group will publish a personal chronicle by Captain Tammie Jo Shults, titled Nerves of Steel: How I Followed My Dreams, Earned My Wings, And Faced My Greatest Challenge, on 8 October 2019.

W Publishing Group to publish Captain Tammie Jo Shults' Nerves of Steel: How I Followed My Dreams, Earned My Wings, And Faced My Greatest Challenge this October

The Irishman showed nerves of steel in the wind and rain at Royal Portrush to win his first Major by six shots.

IT'S ROYAL PORTMUSH; MAJOR GLORY FOR HERO LOWRY Not a dry eye in house as Shane romps to victory

In a must-win fixture for Pakistan on Wednesday, Babar Azam walked in, displayed nerves of steel and stayed till the end of the chase to send his side over the line with a six-wicket triumph over the unbeaten side of the tournament, New Zealand.

Twitter lauds Babar as he surpasses idol Virat to become second fastest to 3000

Reigning five-time MVP June Mar Fajardo and Alex Cabagnot showed nerves of steel in the pressure-packed moments as the Beermen overcame the biggest challenge yet to their throne.

San Miguel makes history with 5th straight Philippine Cup title, outlasts Magnolia in Game 7

But Grayson (below) did the damage on the board when he showed nerves of steel to convert Alex Mitchell's try and complete a day to forget for Quins.

HEIR-SOME STUFF, JAMES

Talk about nerves of steel! I guarantee that not too many bowhunters, myself included, would have the guts to do that.

NERVES OF STEEL

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas yesterday said his country's support for the opposition leader remained "unquestionable." But Maduro also stood his ground, calling on Venezuelans to have "nerves of steel." "In the face of the imperial aggressions, I ratify before any circumstance: nerves of steel, calm and sanity, full awareness and permanent mobilisation," he tweeted, adding: "We shall continue to win!" Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino said Wednesday that the government was evaluating permanent military deployment plans "to face imperial aggressions against the fatherland." Guaido said that Kriener's expulsion was a threat to Germany.

Caracas calls on EU to 'reconsider interference'

With nerves of steel, Yap sank the bonus free throw that eventually gave them the victory.