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
But his act of dissent hit a nerve among his countrymen.
—
Han Zhang, The New Yorker, 11 June 2024
But maybe that speaks to the fact that he’s hit a nerve, with pictures that evoke the comical, nonsensical, random cruelty of modern life.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 May 2024
His disgust with fictionality hit a nerve among American writers.
—John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 14 Mar. 2010
Knowing that many feel passionately about the brand, particularly after Westwood’s death, the show on Saturday appeared to touch a nerve.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024
In Milwaukee, for-profit colleges touch a nerve: After several have closed in the city, some don't want to see others open.
—Journal Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2024
Dating in a picturesque tropical villa seems to always strike a nerve, but emotions will run especially deep for these couples.
—Calie Schepp, EW.com, 10 May 2023
Justice Engoron’s decision to bar them from running any New York business for two years — and Mr. Trump for three — will likely strike a nerve with the Trump family.
—Ben Protess, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024
After the cheery foot massage, though, Behar appeared to hit a nerve with the 53-year-old during a discussion about his potential run for office in his home state of Texas.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 12 Sep. 2023
Han Zhang, The New Yorker, 11 June 2024
But maybe that speaks to the fact that he’s hit a nerve, with pictures that evoke the comical, nonsensical, random cruelty of modern life.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 May 2024
His disgust with fictionality hit a nerve among American writers.
—John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 14 Mar. 2010
Knowing that many feel passionately about the brand, particularly after Westwood’s death, the show on Saturday appeared to touch a nerve.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024
In Milwaukee, for-profit colleges touch a nerve: After several have closed in the city, some don't want to see others open.
—Journal Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2024
Dating in a picturesque tropical villa seems to always strike a nerve, but emotions will run especially deep for these couples.
—Calie Schepp, EW.com, 10 May 2023
Justice Engoron’s decision to bar them from running any New York business for two years — and Mr. Trump for three — will likely strike a nerve with the Trump family.
—Ben Protess, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024
After the cheery foot massage, though, Behar appeared to hit a nerve with the 53-year-old during a discussion about his potential run for office in his home state of Texas.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 12 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hit/strike/touch a nerve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 4 Jul. 2024.
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