touch a nerve
English · Thesaurus
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touch a nerve
Where it comes from
An allusion to the sharp sensation felt when a dentist or surgeon physically disturbs an exposed nerve.
verb touches a nerve · touching a nerve · touched a nerve · hit a nerve · strike a nerve
- To make a remark or perform a deed which produces a strong response, especially an emotional response such as anxiety or annoyance, because it calls to mind something which has been a source of concern or embarrassment. Louis B. Seltzer, editor of the Cleveland Press, . . . banged out an editorial that raised uncomfortable questions about the state of the U.S. at a moment of world responsibility. His piece touched a nerve: in the following week, 1,000 people had tried to reach him by phone or written him letters or
Opposite: strike a chord
Thesaurus
verb
Opposite: strike a chord
Translations
Every language
verb to make a remark or perform a deed which produces a strong response
| Español | dar en un nervio |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 戳到痛處 /戳到痛处 chuō dào tòngchù |
| Français | toucher la corde sensible, faire vibrer la corde sensible |
| Русский | заде́ть за живо́е zadétʹ za živóje |
Talk about this word "touch a nerve." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/touch%20a%20nerve. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. touch a nerve. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/touch%20a%20nerve "touch a nerve." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/touch%20a%20nerve.Cite this
@misc{touch_a_nerve_2026,
title = {touch a nerve},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/touch%20a%20nerve},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
