hit a nerve



hit/touch a (raw) nerve

to upset someone by talking about a particular subject I think I hit a nerve with my comments about divorce. She suddenly looked distressed and I knew I'd touched a raw nerve.
See strain every nerve
See also: hit, nerve

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
AlisonAL-i-sən (English), a-lee-SAWN (French)English, French
GÉRaldine-French
Eshe-Eastern African, Swahili
Acanthaə-KAN-thə (English)Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Jamillah-Arabic
Nilam-Indian, Hindi, Marathi