hit/strike/touch a nerve

idiom

: 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.

Examples of hit/strike/touch a nerve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This seemed to strike a nerve in Pickens, who made a not-dissimilar catch during this week's Monday Night Football, in which the Steelers defeated the New York Giants 26-18. Nathan Kamal, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 The song played a pivotal part in Gaga: Five Foot Two, her 2017 Netflix documentary, where its mixed reception seemed to strike a nerve with her. Kristen S. Hé, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024 Tapestry became a whole new kind of pop blockbuster, a confessional statement that hit a nerve with fans, staying on the charts year after year. Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2024 But his act of dissent hit a nerve among his countrymen. Han Zhang, The New Yorker, 11 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for hit/strike/touch a nerve 

Dictionary Entries Near hit/strike/touch a nerve

Cite this Entry

“Hit/strike/touch a nerve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hit%2Fstrike%2Ftouch%20a%20nerve. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!