nerve-trying

"For its first 13 episodes, Rainer Werner Fassbinder's adaptation of Alfred Döblin's 1929 novel Berlin Alexanderplatz is most decidedly a masterpiece - this despite numerous nerve-trying flaws and longueurs that could only tickle the fancy of extended-running-time masochists like Susan Sontag," writes Keith Uhlich.

GreenCine Daily: Shorts, fests, etc, 4/2. 2007

It was a nerve-trying experience for most of them, and they felt sick with horror of it, in spite of the whisky and their grim jokes.

The Underworld The Story of Robert Sinclair, Miner James C. Welsh

It was a nerve-trying situation, but life or death might depend on their self-control, and they stood the test successfully, although poor Tom had an almost irrepressible desire to sneeze, in conquering which he almost broke a blood vessel.

Army Boys in the French Trenches Or, Hand to Hand Fighting with the Enemy Homer Randall

She was growing to appreciate Shane's irrepressible Irish cheerfulness that always rose above hunger, accident and the nerve-trying confinement of the cabin in stormy weather.

Where the Sun Swings North Barrett Willoughby

Mollie's car -- and before long they tasted the exquisite restfulness of comfortable beds after a long nerve-trying day in the out-of-doors.

The Outdoor Girls at Wild Rose Lodge Or, the hermit of Moonlight falls Laura Lee Hope

They wasted little time in getting ready -- Betty and Mollie had appointed themselves a committee of two to bring in the grips from Mollie's car -- and before long they tasted the exquisite restfulness of comfortable beds after a long nerve-trying day in the out-of-doors.

The Outdoor Girls at Wild Rose Lodge or, the Hermit of Moonlight Falls Laura Lee Hope

There was a nerve-trying noise of crackling somewhere at hand, but Mrs. Bradley, sniffing, could not smell any smoke.

St Peter's Finger Mitchell, Gladys, 1901-1983 1938

Her first instinctive feeling was one of reluctance to retrace that nerve-trying trail.

North of Fifty-Three Bertrand W. Sinclair 1926

After a nerve-trying half-hour, I was thankful to see the form of my men appearing at the moment when I was vehemently expressing indignation at not being understood.

Across China on Foot Edwin John Dingle 1926

It was a nerve-trying task, for their progress was of necessity

The Native Born or, the Rajah's People 1922