hold one's nerve
To stay calm facing nervousness.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You must hold your nerve during the difficult test.”
“The climber had to hold her nerve while she crossed the narrow bridge over the canyon.”
“Despite the mounting pressure from the board of directors, the chief executive managed to hold his nerve and stick to the original long-term strategy.”
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abound in one's own sense
To follow one’s own inclinations and opinions.
- 02
ace up one's sleeve
A surprise advantage of which others are not aware.
- 03
act one's age
To behave in a manner appropriate to one's age.
- 04
act one's age, not one's shoe size
Synonym of act one's age (“to behave in a mature manner; to avoid being childish”).
- 05
afraid of one's own shadow
Exceptionally timid.
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air one's dirty laundry in public
To reveal one's sordid secrets to the public.
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air one's dirty linen in public
Synonym of air one's dirty laundry in public.
- 08
albatross around one's neck
A characteristic, possession, associate, or previous deed that hinders one's ability to succeed.
Last updated August 10, 2026