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Glite Dictionary
to touch a nerve

to touch a nerve

7 7.7
Make someone feel upset or defensive by mentioning a sensitive subject
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : tocar un nervio
  • When she brought up the topic of past betrayals, it unexpectedly touched a nerve for him.
  • really touch a nerve
  • clearly touched a nerve
  • knew it would touch a nerve

And I think it touched a nerve because it was a so a soft spot for him.

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Examples

  • I seem to have touched a nerve.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • You've obviously touched a nerve.

    Who Is Cletis Tout? (2001)

  • Did I touch a nerve?

    Final Destination 5 (2011)

  • I think I just touched a nerve.

    Underwater (2020)

  • I think I touched a nerve.

    Cars 3 (2017)

  • But her message had touched a nerve.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • I think part of the reason that this article touches a nerve is economic.

    Blog text (1)

  • The finding touched a nerve, say the University of Louisville researchers who published it.

    Blog text (16)

  • The journalist has unknowingly touched a nerve.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • So, yes, when you appear to minimize their mistreatment, it touches a nerve.

    Blog text (11)

Synonyms

to stir
vsto touch a nerve
131 3.7

To make someone feel a strong emotion

accidentally triggers strong feelings by mentioning a sensitive matter
to provoke
vsto touch a nerve
115 3.7

Cause a reaction or feeling

accidentally causes a strong reaction by touching on a sensitive topic
to arouse
vsto touch a nerve
57 4.1

Cause a feeling or strong reaction in people

accidentally brings about strong emotion through a sensitive comment
to ignite
vsto touch a nerve
47 4.4

To cause strong feelings in someone

accidentally provokes a strong emotional reaction via sensitive remark
to strike a chord
vsto touch a nerve
18 4.4

Make people feel a strong connection when it seems familiar

accidentally produces strong feeling by bringing up a sensitive memory
to get a rise out of
vsto touch a nerve
  • Informal
8 6.8

Make someone angry or annoyed on purpose by teasing them

accidentally causes a strong emotional reaction rather than doing so on purpose
to touch a chord
vsto touch a nerve
  • Informal
2 5.8

To make a person feel a strong emotion

accidentally evokes strong feelings by mentioning a sensitive topic
to stir someone's blood
vsto touch a nerve
6.0

To make someone feel strong excitement or deep emotion

accidentally causes a strong emotional reaction by hitting a sensitive area

Antonyms

to reassure
163 3.4

To make someone feel less worried and more confident

to soothe
63 3.4

To make someone feel calmer or reduce their pain

How Upsetting

to enrage
68 3.7
to touch a nerve
  • Informal
7 7.7
to upset
362 1.0
to offend
524 2.8
to irritate
78 2.9

Surface Forms

touch a nerve infinitive
touching a nerve present participle
touches a nerve third person singular
touched a nerve past
touched a nerve past participle

Morphology

touch + a + nerve

The meaning follows a bodily metaphor: if you literally 'touch a nerve' you cause a strong reaction, so a learner who knows 'touch' and 'nerve' can often infer it refers to provoking a sensitive emotional response. However, the figurative shift from physical pain to emotional/sensitive topics is metaphorical and may not be fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

The phrase touch a nerve comes from a simple body image: if you lightly touch a real nerve, it causes a quick, painful reaction. So, to 'touch a nerve' means to say something that makes someone 'react strongly' or 'feel upset'.