jemandem auf die Nerven gehen
to get on someone's nerves
Origin
Meant figuratively: an annoying behaviour literally irritates the "nerves". The phrase became fixed in colloquial use over the 19th/20th c.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Connector 'indem' (by V-ing, modal/instrumental)Konnektor 'indem' (modal/instrumental)
- Pronoun 'wir' (we, nominative)Pronomen 'wir' (Nominativ)
- Pronoun 'sie' (they, plural, nominative)Pronomen 'sie' (Plural, Nominativ)
- Verb 'sein' (to be), present: er/sie/es ist (he/she/it is)Verb 'sein' im Präsens: er/sie/es ist
- Negation with 'nicht' (not)Negation mit 'nicht'
Examples
Der laute geht auf die .
The loud noise really gets on my nerves.