be nettled—be vexed or angered:
- Becker was nettled at the groan from those around the table. “I know it’s a lot of money, but this is necessary.”
be on nettles—be impatient or anxious:
- Some of them were on nettles till they learned your name was Dickson.
Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase grasp the nettle—take decisive or bold action:
- It was hoped that, grasping the nettle with resolution, he might suffer no evil results.