1、 结构:
这是一个动词短语,主语通常是“人”,其中 one's 需替换为形容词性物主代词(my/your/his/her/our/their)或名词所有格(e.g., Tom's, Mary's)。
基本句式:主语 + lose one's nerve + (介词短语/从句,说明“在什么情况下”)。
2、 常见场景:
用于描述需要勇气或镇定的时刻,比如:
表白、求婚;
演讲、面试;
冒险活动(如攀岩、蹦极);
考试、比赛;
应对危险或困难的局面。
通过不同场景的例子,更直观理解用法:
1、 表白场景:
I was going to ask her to dance, but I lost my nerve at the last minute.
(我本来想邀请她跳舞,但最后一刻胆怯了。)
2、 冒险场景:
He planned to skydiving, but he lost his nerve when he saw the plane.
(他计划跳伞,但看到飞机时就慌了。)
3、 鼓励他人:
Don't lose your nerve—you've practiced this piano piece for months!
(别慌!这首钢琴曲你已经练了好几个月了!)
4、 考试/面试场景:
She lost her nerve during the job interview and forgot what to say.
(她面试时慌了神,忘了要说什么。)
5、 进行时态(强调“正在失去勇气”):
I'm losing my nerve as the presentation time gets closer.
(随着 presentation 时间临近,我越来越慌。)
与 lose one's nerve 意思相近的表达有:
get cold feet:突然退缩(更侧重“临时的紧张/犹豫”,常指对“重大决定”的退缩,如婚礼、搬家);
She got cold feet about the wedding and called it off.(她婚礼前突然退缩,取消了婚礼。)
chicken out:临阵退缩(口语化,带“胆小”的调侃意味);
He chickened out of the haunted house at the last second.(他最后一秒不敢进鬼屋了。)
该短语无被动形式(因为是“人主动失去勇气”),不能说 His nerve was lost;
否定形式 don't lose your nerve 是常见的鼓励用语,用于安慰他人保持镇定。
总结:lose one's nerve 是描述“关键时刻掉链子”的经典短语,核心是“勇气/镇定的丧失”,适用于各种需要“敢做”的场景~