get on someone's nerves

Meaning

This idiom means to annoy, irritate, or frustrate someone, usually through repetitive or bothersome behavior. It is highly conversational and slightly informal, used to express mild to moderate annoyance. You can replace 'someone's' with possessive adjectives like 'my', 'his', 'her', or 'their'.

Examples

• That constant tapping sound is really starting to get on my nerves.

  That constant tapping sound is really starting to get on my nerves.

• I love my little brother, but sometimes he really gets on my nerves.

  I love my little brother, but sometimes he really gets on my nerves.

• Her habit of interrupting people during meetings gets on everyone's nerves.

  Her habit of interrupting people during meetings gets on everyone's nerves.

• Please stop whistling that tune; it's getting on my nerves.

  Please stop whistling that tune; it's getting on my nerves.

• He is a nice guy, but his constant complaining can get on your nerves.

  He is a nice guy, but his constant complaining can get on your nerves.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ His behavior gets on my nerve.

  ✓ His behavior gets on my nerves.

  The word 'nerves' must always be plural in this idiomatic phrase.

• ✗ She gets to my nerves with her loud voice.

  ✓ She gets on my nerves with her loud voice.

  The correct preposition is 'on', not 'to'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The loud music from the apartment upstairs is really starting to get ___ my nerves.

  💡 The correct preposition for this idiom.

  Show answer

  on

• Please stop doing that! You are really getting on my ___.

  💡 The plural noun that ends this idiomatic phrase.

  Show answer

  nerves