1.   Blocked roads, wildcat action and frayed nerves tested the patience of commuters and consumers across the continent.

2.   She knew she was being argumentative, a trait not exactly geared to ease frayed nerves.

3.   And frayed nerves just may start to heal.

4.   And there is the expense of employee training and dealing with frayed nerves when the computers malfunction, as they inevitably do.

5.   But aside from any health threat, the emissions have caused persistent sore throats, stinging eyes and frayed nerves in many workers and residents in Lower Manhattan.

6.   But they were spending more time in line than online, leading to sharp words and frayed nerves.

7.   He was more concerned with softening the frayed nerves of the players, particularly Gill, who responded angrily to the rumors at first.

8.   Help desks are hotbeds of frayed nerves.

9.   Kids can turn a simple shirt purchase into a hail of negotiations, tears, frayed nerves.

10.   Ms. Bernstein said that frayed nerves were the exception, rather than the rule, at her parties.