to have a sting

1 7.1

To cause a sharp feeling of hurt that lasts for a while

idiom

: herir

Although he tried to be polite, his words had a sting that hurt her feelings.

If those words didn't have a sting, I guess I'd be all for Yarin.

Examples

Of course her words had a sting, it would ...

Blog text (1)
If those words didn't have a sting, I guess I'd be all for Yarin.

ReasonTV
Her critical comments had a sting that lingered long after the meeting.
The letter was kind at first, but it ended with a line that had a sting.

Synonyms

to hurt

vsto have a sting

∞ 1.0

Make someone suffer physical or emotional pain

focuses specifically on sharp emotional pain that leaves lasting discomfort

to burn

vsto have a sting

636 1.8

To feel a hot, stinging pain after heat or chemicals

is focused on emotional sharpness and longer lasting uncomfortable feeling

to pain

vsto have a sting

41 4.9

To make someone feel sad or upset

is narrower, implying a sharp, stinging emotional quality and lasting effect

to sting

vsto have a sting

26 3.3

To feel sharp emotional pain after someone says something hurtful

is about a sharp feeling that leaves lasting emotional discomfort

to bite

vsto have a sting

19 3.1

To cause a sharp, stinging pain, often from cold or wind

is emotional rather than mainly physical and often leaves longer discomfort

to prick

vsto have a sting

14 4.7

To cause a small sharp pain like a sting

is more specifically about emotional sting that lasts and troubles someone

to wound

vsto have a sting

10 5.7

To hurt a person's feelings deeply

is about making someone feel sharply hurt but also leaving continued discomfort

to pierce

vsto have a sting

7 4.6

To cause a sudden strong feeling in someone

is about causing sharp emotional pain that continues beyond the sudden impact

to prickle

vsto have a sting

6 4.0

Cause a small stinging or tingling feeling on the skin

is stronger, implying clear emotional hurt that remains after the moment

to cut to the quick

vsto have a sting

Literature

3 7.9

To hurt someone's feelings very deeply

is similar but stresses a lasting, lingering hurt rather than only offence

to sting like a bee

vsto have a sting

Informal

2 7.7

To say something that hurts someone suddenly and sharply

is more about causing a sharp emotional ache that remains afterward

to lacerate

vsto have a sting

2 7.6

To deeply hurt someone's feelings

is broader, focusing on sharp lasting discomfort rather than only intense harm

to nettle

vsto have a sting

1 6.8

To annoy or upset someone in a way that feels sharp

is about causing actual emotional pain and a lasting sense of discomfort

Antonyms

to heal

726 1.2

To become healthy again after an injury, illness, or emotional pain

to comfort

172 1.0

To make someone feel less upset or in pain

How Hurtful

to devastate

256 4.9

to wound

10 5.7

to have a sting

1 7.1

to hurt

∞ 1.0

to offend

283 2.8

Surface Forms

have a sting infinitive

had a sting past

had a sting past participle

having a sting present participle

has a sting third person singular

Morphology

have + a + sting

The meaning is directly derivable from the parts: 'have' (to experience/possess) + 'sting' (a sharp pain or hurt), so 'have a sting' is interpreted as experiencing a sharp/emotional pain. The construction is a straightforward possessive/experiential pattern (have + noun) and the metaphorical use of 'sting' is predictable and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely understand it.

Etymology

Have a sting comes from the picture of an insect's sting: a bee or wasp gives a sudden, sharp pain. If words or actions have a sting, they are like that sharp pain and leave you feeling hurt, so the phrase means 'to cause emotional pain'.