touch a nerve
Provoke emotional reaction
To touch a nerve is to bring up something that provokes a strong emotional reaction, usually because it relates to a sensitive subject or personal vulnerability.
The image is of accidentally striking an exposed nerve ending: I didn't mean to touch a nerve—I had no idea she was so sensitive about her weight.
Also hit a nerve, strike a nerve.
What initiates action
- provokeIncite a response
- inflameIntensify emotion or irritation
- aggravateMake more severe
- rileAnger through irritation
needle · goad · irk · offend · insult · affront · slight · dig
Uncertainty about oneself
- woundCoiled, or an injury
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- scarPermanent mark from healing
- baggageTraveler's packed belongings
hang-up · complex · sensitivity · exposed · unhealed · unresolved · deep-seated · lingering
Vibrate or echo deeply
- registerRecord officially; vocal range
- landEarth's solid surface
- connectJoin or link
- recognitionPerceiving something as known
truth · relatability · validation · identification · universal · poignant · affecting · meaningful
trigger
What initiates action
rile · needle · goad · irk · offend · insult · affront · slight · dig · barb
insecurity
Uncertainty about oneself
baggage · hang-up · complex · sensitivity · exposed · unhealed · unresolved · deep-seated · lingering
resonate
Vibrate or echo deeply
recognition · truth · relatability · validation · identification · universal · poignant · affecting · meaningful · personal
touch a nervesoothe
Gently ease discomfort
reassure · put at ease · comfort · pacify · mollify
touch a nervefall on deaf ears
Be ignored despite being spoken
go in one ear and out the other · bounce off · miss the mark · wash over
touch, touched, touching, touches, touchy, untouched, touchable, untouchable, nerve