a lot of nerve

a lot of nerve

1. A great amount of courage, resolve, or integrity. It must have taken a lot of nerve to stand up to your boss like that. I'll warn you know—you've got to have a lot of nerve to take on such a powerful lobbying firm.
2. Rude, impertinent, or brazen audacity. You've got a lot of nerve walking in here after the way you spoke to me last time. I've given him chance after chance, but he keeps on betraying my trust. What a lot of nerve.
See also: lot, nerve, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

*lot of nerve

 
1. Fig. great rudeness; a lot of audacity or brashness. (*Typically: have ~; take ~.) He walked out on her, and that took a lot of nerve! You have a lot of nerve! You took my parking place!
2. Fig. courage. (*Typically: have ~; take ~.) He climbed the mountain with a bruised foot. That took a lot of nerve. He has a lot of nerve to go into business for himself.
See also: lot, nerve, of
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • lot of nerve
  • some nerve
  • take a lot of nerve
  • take a lot of nerve (to do something)
  • take some nerve (to do something)
  • you've got a lot of nerve
  • bottle it
  • bottle out
  • lose (one's) bottle
  • get up (one's) nerve (to do something)