raw nerve
Emotional sore point
A raw nerve is a sensitive emotional spot—a topic, memory, or issue that triggers strong reactions when touched.
The phrase comes from exposed nerve endings that cause pain when stimulated.
To hit a raw nerve or touch a raw nerve is to inadvertently raise something that upsets someone: His comment about her father struck a raw nerve.
- stingSharp wound from insect
- sore spotSensitive topic or area
- trigger pointLocalized muscular tension area
- hair triggerUltra-responsive firing mechanism
- hypersensitivityExaggerated response to stimuli
thin skin · Achilles' heel · tender spot · burn · shock · flashpoint · fight or flight · ache · insecurity · shame · exposed · overreaction · inflammation · fragility · breaking point · snap · jolt · defensiveness
- Sore Spotsweak spot, hot button, trigger, vulnerability, insecurity
- suffering metaphorsdrowning, bottomless pit, chains, cage, trapped
- annoyancesannoyance, annoyances, irritations, irritation, nuisance
- weaknessesweakness, flaw, failing, defect, shortcoming
raw nervethick skin
Immunity to criticism
emotional armor · callousness · hardened · impervious · insensitivity
raw nerveunflappable
Impossible to disturb
equanimity · sangfroid · nerves of steel · imperturbability · even keel
raw nervethick skin
Immunity to criticism
emotional armor · equanimity · composure · imperturbability · unflappability
nerve, raw, nervous, nerves, nervousness, nervously, nerved, nerveless, nerve-racking