hit a nerve
1hit a nerve — If something hits a nerve, it upsets someone or causes them pain, often when it is something they are trying to hide …
2hit a nerve — touch/strike/hit/etc a (raw) nerve phrase to say or do something that annoys or hurts someone because they are sensitive about it His comment seemed to strike a raw nerve. Thesaurus: to make someone feel a particular emotion or strong… …
3hit a nerve — ► touch (or hit) a (raw) nerve refer to a sensitive topic. Main Entry: ↑nerve …
4hit a nerve — is high and mighty, they behave in a superior If something hits a nerve, it upsets someone or causes them pain, often when it is something they are trying to hide. (Dorking School Dictionary) …
5hit a (raw) nerve — hit/touch a (raw) nerve to upset someone by talking about a particular subject. I think I hit a nerve with my comments about divorce. She suddenly looked distressed and I knew I d touched a raw nerve …
6nerve — 1 noun 1 FEELINGS nerves (plural) the feeling of being nervous because you are worried or a little frightened: “What s wrong?” “It s just nerves. He s got his exams tomorrow.” | be a bundle/bag of nerves informal (=be extremely worrid or… …
7nerve — noun 1 in the body ADJECTIVE ▪ pinched (AmE), trapped (BrE) ▪ sensitive ▪ damaged ▪ facial, optic, sciatic …
8hit/strike/touch a nerve — to make someone feel angry, upset, embarrassed, etc. Something she said to him must have hit/struck/touched a nerve. I ve never seen him so angry. His controversial column might have hit a (raw/sensitive) nerve with some readers. • • • Main Entr …
9hit a (raw) nerve — hit/touch a (raw/sensitive) ˈnerve idiom to mention a subject that makes sb feel angry, upset, embarrassed, etc • You touched a raw nerve when you mentioned his first wife. Main entry: ↑nerveidiom …
10hit a (sensitive) nerve — hit/touch a (raw/sensitive) ˈnerve idiom to mention a subject that makes sb feel angry, upset, embarrassed, etc • You touched a raw nerve when you mentioned his first wife. Main entry: ↑nerveidiom …