strike/hit a raw nerve

strike/hit a raw nerve
   If something you say strikes or hits a raw nerve, it upsets someone because they are very sensitive about the subject.
   

You struck a raw nerve when you mentioned divorce. They're separating.


English Idioms & idiomatic expressions. 2014.

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  • strike a raw nerve — touch/strike/hit/etc a (raw) nerve phrase to say or do something that annoys or hurts someone because they are sensitive about it His comment seemed to strike a raw nerve. Thesaurus: to make someone feel a particular emotion or strong… …   Useful english dictionary

  • raw — raw1 [ rɔ ] adjective ** ▸ 1 not cooked ▸ 2 strong/natural ▸ 3 facts: not examined ▸ 4 not trained ▸ 5 skin: sore ▸ 6 weather: cold ▸ 7 with sexual language ▸ 8 with loose fibers ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) raw food has not been cooked, or has not been… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • hit/strike/touch a nerve — 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. • • • Main Entr …   Useful english dictionary

  • hit a nerve — touch/strike/hit/etc a (raw) nerve phrase to say or do something that annoys or hurts someone because they are sensitive about it His comment seemed to strike a raw nerve. Thesaurus: to make someone feel a particular emotion or strong… …   Useful english dictionary

  • strike a nerve — touch/strike/hit/etc a (raw) nerve phrase to say or do something that annoys or hurts someone because they are sensitive about it His comment seemed to strike a raw nerve. Thesaurus: to make someone feel a particular emotion or strong… …   Useful english dictionary

  • nerve — I UK [nɜː(r)v] / US [nɜrv] noun Word forms nerve : singular nerve plural nerves ** 1) [countable] one of the groups of fibres in your body that carry messages between your brain and the rest of your body, communicating pain, pressure, feelings of …   English dictionary

  • nerve — noun 1 in the body ADJECTIVE ▪ pinched (AmE), trapped (BrE) ▪ sensitive ▪ damaged ▪ facial, optic, sciatic …   Collocations dictionary

  • nerve — nerve1 [ nɜrv ] noun ** 1. ) count one of the groups of fibers in your body that carry messages between your brain and the rest of your body, communicating pain, pressure, feelings of heat and cold, etc.: A pinched nerve is causing her a lot of… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Germany — /jerr meuh nee/, n. a republic in central Europe: after World War II divided into four zones, British, French, U.S., and Soviet, and in 1949 into East Germany and West Germany; East and West Germany were reunited in 1990. 84,068,216; 137,852 sq.… …   Universalium

  • Murder of Selena — The Mirador de la Flor, which was unveiled in 1997 in honor of Selena, was sculpted by H.W. Buddy Tatum and was funded by the Devary Durril Foundation.[1] …   Wikipedia

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