Idiom: lose one’s nerve

Meaning

Idiom: lose one’s nerve

to not have the courage to do something anymore
to be so afraid of doing something you had planned to do that you decide not to do it

— I was going to ask Sarah to dance but I lost my nerve and now some other guy is talking to her.

— I signed-up for the competition because I was afraid I’d lose my nerve and never practice if I didn’t have a serious reason to do it.

— I raised my hand to ask a question in class but immediately lost my nerve and put my hand back down.

— My son wanted to apply to an Ivy league college but lost his nerve because he was afraid to ask a teacher to write a recommendation.

— You better drop the application in the mail before you lose your nerve.

— Unfortunately, my daughter lost her nerve to get married during the ceremony.

— Two people had already jumped out of the plane but both my husband and I lost our nerve to skydive.

— Every time you lose your nerve and quit, it will be harder and harder the next time.

— Ugh! My boss lost his nerve again to ask the CEO to give us a raise.