In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the option that best expresses the meaning of the given idiom or phrase. Get on the nerves

Introduction / Context:
This idiom question asks for the meaning of the phrase "get on the nerves". In everyday English, this expression is used when someone or something constantly annoys or irritates you. To answer correctly, you must focus on the emotional effect on the person whose nerves are being affected, not on changes in their confidence or strength.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Idiom: "Get on the nerves".
• Options: To be an irritant; To lose confidence; To become very sensitive; cry easily; To become very strong emotionally.
• We assume the idiom is used in its common figurative sense, as in "You are getting on my nerves".

Concept / Approach:
When someone says "You are getting on my nerves", they mean "You are annoying me" or "You are irritating me." The image is that constant noise, behaviour, or demands are wearing down a person's patience. The idiom does not mean that the person is losing confidence or becoming stronger; it simply describes irritation caused by the other party. Therefore, the correct answer is the option that captures that idea of being an irritant.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall common usage: "That sound is really getting on my nerves" or "His constant complaints get on my nerves."Step 2: Understand that in both examples the speaker feels annoyed or irritated.Step 3: Examine option A, "To be an irritant". This matches the idea of causing irritation or annoyance.Step 4: Examine option B, "To lose confidence". This describes a decrease in self belief, which is not the meaning of the idiom.Step 5: Examine options C and D, which talk about becoming sensitive or strong emotionally. These refer to changes in the person's internal state, not the effect of another's behaviour on their patience. Therefore, option A is the only correct choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
Try substituting the options into sample sentences: "His habits really get on my nerves." If you paraphrase this as "His habits really irritate me", it fits perfectly. However, paraphrasing it as "His habits make me lose confidence" or "make me strong emotionally" does not match typical usage. Similarly, "The noise of construction gets on my nerves" clearly means it is annoying or irritating, not that it is making someone emotionally strong or overly sensitive in a general sense.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B, "To lose confidence", might occur in other contexts, but the idiom "get on the nerves" never means causing loss of self confidence. Option C, "To become very sensitive; cry easily", describes a general personality trait and not the specific reaction of being irritated by someone's repeated behaviour. Option D, "To become very strong emotionally", is the opposite of what usually happens when your nerves are being worn down. None of these match the idiom's real meaning.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students misinterpret "nerves" as referring only to nervousness or fear, and may assume the idiom has to do with courage or confidence. In fact, everyday phrases like "You are getting on my nerves" or "That is nerve wracking" relate more to stress and annoyance. To avoid confusion, link "get on someone's nerves" with other expressions like "bug someone" or "drive someone crazy", all of which describe irritation.

Final Answer:
The idiom "get on the nerves" means to be an irritant, that is, to annoy or bother someone repeatedly.