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battle of nerves

battle of nerves {n. phr.}

A contest of wills during which the parties do not fight physically but try to wear each other out.

It has been a regular battle of nerves to get the new program accepted at the local state university.

See: WAR OF NERVES.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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get on one's nerves

[get on one's nerves] {v. phr.} To make you nervous. * /John's noisy eating habits get on your nerves./ * /Children get on their parents' nerves by asking so many […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

half the battle

[half the battle] {n.phr.} A large part of the work. * /When you write an essay for class, making the outline is half the battle./ * /To see your faults […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

on one's nerves

[on one's nerves] See: [GET ON ONE'S NERVES]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

jar on

[jar on] {v. phr.} To irritate. * /The constant construction noise was beginning to jar on the nerves of the members of the meeting./ A Dictionary of American Idioms

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