The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word STEELS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
S
T
E
E
L
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "nerves" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case nerves = steels.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does STEELS mean?
STEELS noun- An artificial metal produced from iron, harder and more elastic than elemental iron; used figuratively as a symbol of hardness.
- Any item made of this metal, particularly including:
- Medicinal consumption of this metal; chalybeate medicine; (eventually) any iron or iron-treated water consumed as a medical treatment.
- Varieties of this metal.
- (colors) The gray hue of this metal; steel-gray, or steel blue.
- Extreme hardness or resilience.
- To edge, cover, or point with steel.
- To harden or strengthen; to nerve or make obdurate; to fortify against.
- (of mirrors) To back with steel.
- To treat a liquid with steel for medicinal purposes.
- To press with a flat iron.
- To cause to resemble steel in appearance.
- To steelify; to turn iron into steel.
- To electroplate an item, particularly an engraving plate, with a layer of iron.
- To sharpen with a honing steel.