The nerve to do something bold when you had no right to — and the speaker thinks you were rude to try. This is a strong, formal, rather old-fashioned word, and it is almost always used to complain about someone. The usual shape is "have the temerity to do something": "He had the temerity to ask me for money after what he did." Say it that way and everyone hears that you are annoyed.

The nerve那種膽子 to do something bold去做一件大膽的事 when you had no right to明明你沒有那個資格 — and the speaker thinks而且說話的人認為 you were rude to try你這樣嘗試很沒禮貌。This is這是 a strong, formal, rather old-fashioned word一個語氣強烈、正式、有點過時的詞, and it is almost always used而且幾乎都是用 to complain about someone來抱怨某個人。The usual shape常見的句型 is "have the temerity to do something"是「have the temerity to do something」（竟敢做某事）: "He had the temerity to ask me for money after what he did."像「He had the temerity to ask me for money after what he did.」（他做了那種事之後，竟然還敢跟我要錢）。Say it that way這樣說 and everyone hears大家就會聽出來 that you are annoyed你在生氣。

Two things sit inside the word at once: the person was brave or bold, and the person was out of line. English has other words for one half each — "courage" is the good half, "rudeness" is the bad half — but temerity holds both, which is why it stings.

Two things兩件事 sit inside the word at once同時存在於這個詞裡: the person was brave or bold這個人很勇敢、很大膽, and the person was out of line而且這個人做得太過分。English英文 has other words還有其他詞 for one half each分別對應這兩半各一半 — "courage" is the good half"courage"（勇氣）是好的那一半, "rudeness" is the bad half"rudeness"（無禮）是壞的那一半 — but temerity holds both但 temerity 兩者都佔了, which is why it stings這就是為什麼這個詞這麼刺人。

There is also an older, more neutral use meaning simply acting without thinking about the danger, closer to "recklessness": "the temerity of sailing alone across the Pacific". You will still see that in books, but in ordinary modern use the annoyed meaning has taken over.

There is also另外還有一個 an older, more neutral use更早、更中性的用法, meaning simply acting without thinking about the danger意思單純是不顧危險地行動, closer to "recklessness"比較接近「recklessness」（魯莽）: "the temerity of sailing alone across the Pacific"像「the temerity of sailing alone across the Pacific」（獨自駕船橫渡太平洋的那種大膽）。You will still see that你還是會在書裡看到這種用法 in books, but in ordinary modern use但在現在一般的用法裡 the annoyed meaning has taken over那種帶著不滿的意思已經佔了上風。

Note that people quite often use it half-jokingly, admiring someone's cheek while pretending to disapprove.

Note that要注意 people quite often use it half-jokingly人們還蠻常半開玩笑地用這個詞, admiring someone's cheek表面上裝作不以為然 while pretending to disapprove其實心裡是在佩服對方的厚臉皮。