Nerves of Steel – Idiom of the Day for IELTS Writing and Speaking

Using idioms effectively in IELTS Speaking and Writing can make your responses more natural and expressive. The idiom “Nerves of Steel” is perfect for describing someone who is extremely brave or patient, especially in tense or challenging situations. This blog explains its meaning, provides examples, exercises, and a sample answer to help you use it confidently.

Meaning of Nerves of Steel

• Definition: Having great patience and courage; someone with nerves of steel is exceptionally brave, composed, and able to stay calm under pressure.
• Example Explanation: When we say someone has nerves of steel, it means they remain unshaken even in dangerous, tense, or challenging situations.
• Examples of “Nerves of Steel”
  • That woman has nerves of steel, considering she showed up at work today after almost being kidnapped last night.
  • While watching The Ring, we were all scared out of our minds, but Steve had nerves of steel, nonchalantly smirking as if he found it funny.
  • You have to have nerves of steel to stand up for Richard while he was wrongly treated for a minor mistake.

Usage of “Nerves of Steel” in IELTS Speaking

Here are some example sentences showing how the idiom is used naturally:

• “Skydivers must have nerves of steel to jump from thousands of feet.”
• “Doctors need nerves of steel when performing high-risk surgeries.”
• “My sister has nerves of steel; she volunteered to help during the flood.”

Pro Tip: Use this idiom naturally when describing courageous people, adventurous experiences, or stressful situations in IELTS Speaking Part 1, IELTS Speaking Part 2, or IELTS Speaking Part 3.

Sample IELTS Speaking Answer Using “Nerves of Steel”

IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Describe an Adventurous Person You Know
I consider myself a travel enthusiast, eager to learn and experience diverse cultures and nature. During my trip to Thailand, I met Sebastian, one of the most intriguing people I’ve ever known. We shared stories over dinner, and he is down to earth with a witty sense of humor, making him great company.
Sebastian has an insatiable hunger to explore the world beyond Europe, where he was born. He has traveled to awe-inspiring destinations and always immerses himself in local customs, languages, and cuisines. A true adventure, of course, involves adrenaline-boosting activities. Sebastian enjoys extreme sports and finds paragliding and bungee jumping fun and relaxing, I realized he must have nerves of steel to do that. Though we haven’t met again, we keep in touch and correspond via email, hoping to reunite in the future.

Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Meaning

Choose the correct meaning of the idiom “Nerves of Steel” in each sentence:

1. That firefighter has nerves of steel.
   a) Very nervous
   b) Extremely brave
   c) Careless
2. Skydivers need nerves of steel to jump from airplanes.
   a) Courageous and composed
   b) Afraid and panicked
   c) Overconfident
3. She has nerves of steel, facing her exam without fear.
   a) Calm and brave
   b) Unsure and anxious
   c) Excited
4. A soldier in battle must have nerves of steel.
   a) Patient and brave
   b) Afraid and hesitant
   c) Careless
5. Only someone with nerves of steel could try bungee jumping for the first time.
   a) Fearless and courageous
   b) Scared and cautious
   c) Lazy

Exercise 2: Complete the Sentences

Fill in the blanks with the idiom “nerves of steel”:

1. To work as a surgeon, you need ___________________ to handle life-or-death situations.
2. Paragliding requires ___________________ because of the heights involved.
3. Facing the wild animals in the jungle, he showed ___________________.
4. Only a person with ___________________ could perform on stage in front of thousands of people.
5. To rescue people during the flood, the volunteers had ___________________.

Answers

Exercise 1 Answers:

1. b) Extremely brave
2. a) Courageous and composed
3. a) Calm and brave
4. a) Patient and brave
5. a) Fearless and courageous

Exercise 2 Answers:

1. nerves of steel
2. nerves of steel
3. nerves of steel
4. nerves of steel
5. nerves of steel

To summarize, the idiom “Nerves of Steel” is a versatile and expressive way to describe courage, patience, and composure in challenging situations. Using it naturally in IELTS Speaking and Writing can enhance your vocabulary score and make your answers more engaging. Practice with the examples, exercises, and sample answers provided to confidently include it in your responses.

Also Check: 

• 21+ Tips On How to Improve Your IELTS Writing Band Score
• IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+
• IELTS Writing Task 1 Connectors
• 10 Useful IELTS Speaking Tips to Impress the Examiner
• Useful Idioms for IELTS Speaking to Score Band 8.0+