be nervous with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be nervous with" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when describing a feeling of anxiety or apprehension in relation to a specific person or situation, but it is better to use more standard expressions. Example: "I tend to be nervous with new people at social gatherings."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

He'd expected her to be nervous with him — at what point might she leap up and end the evening with some excuse or other?

The New Yorker

She knew that researchers would be nervous with her hanging around, taking notes, and she did not want to impose on her family or friends.

The New York Times - Science

Beauty schools are risky for haircuts because the students are still learning their profession.They might be nervous with shaky hands or too confident and really mess up.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

He designed it as a capstone, and is nervous with hope for it.

The New Yorker

"I was nervous with being in the actual Olympics," said Yagudin, who lost the 2001 world championships to Plushenko, partly because of an injury.

The New York Times - Sports

I thought he might have been nervous with the big crowd and the TV audience – it must have felt as if everybody in the world was watching him.

The Guardian - Music

South showed his three aces, but when North asked for kings, South denied one, being nervous with such a balanced hand.

The New York Times

They were nervous with us.

BBC

"Helen was nervous with him at first, but he was persistent and finally won her over," Stewart said.

Huffington Post

Just being nervous with adrenaline flowing can cause my blood sugars to go high and something as simple as losing my appetite before lunch can cause my blood sugar to drop.

Huffington Post

"We want people to be nervous about investing with these firms," Frank said.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be nervous with", ensure the context clearly indicates the source or cause of the nervousness.

Common error

Avoid using "be nervous with" in formal writing. Opt for more professional phrases like "feel apprehensive about" or "be concerned about" to maintain a serious and credible tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be nervous with" primarily functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating a state of anxiety or unease in relation to a specific person, object, or situation. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes a feeling of apprehension in a particular context.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be nervous with" expresses a feeling of anxiety or unease associated with a particular person or situation. While grammatically acceptable, as noted by Ludwig AI, it's not as common or direct as alternatives like "feel anxious around" or "be uneasy with". Its usage spans various contexts, including news, wiki content, and science, but is less frequent in formal settings. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the source of the nervousness. Overall, consider more common alternatives for greater clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feel anxious around

Replaces the idiom "be nervous" with a more straightforward description of feeling anxious, focusing on the context of being around someone or something.

be uneasy with

Similar to "be nervous", but suggests a more subtle feeling of discomfort or lack of ease.

feel apprehensive about

Focuses on anticipating something with anxiety or fear, rather than the general state of nervousness.

be anxious in the presence of

More formal and emphasizes the physical presence of whatever is causing the anxiety.

be worried about interacting with

Specifically addresses the anxiety related to interaction.

feel intimidated by

Highlights the feeling of being made to feel small or insignificant, causing nervousness.

be on edge around

Focuses on the heightened state of alertness and tension caused by someone or something.

feel stressed when with

Connects nervousness to stress explicitly caused by being in someone's company.

be concerned about

Indicates worry and apprehension about a potential outcome.

get butterflies with

An idiomatic expression for feeling nervous, especially in romantic contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "be nervous with" in a sentence?

You can use "be nervous with" to express feeling anxious or uneasy around someone or something. For instance, "I tend to be nervous with new people at social gatherings."

What are some alternatives to "be nervous with"?

Alternatives include "feel anxious around", "be uneasy with", or "feel apprehensive about", depending on the specific context.

Is "be nervous with" grammatically correct?

While not incorrect, "be nervous with" is not the most standard or common phrasing. It's generally better to use more direct alternatives for improved clarity.

When is it appropriate to use "be nervous with"?

It's appropriate when you want to emphasize that your nervousness is specifically related to a particular person or situation. However, consider whether a more common alternative would be clearer and more effective.