Idiom: touch a nerve

Meaning

Idiom: hit / touch a (raw) nerve

— Please don't talk about Sarah’s tonight—you know that touches a raw nerve with Steve.

— Anytime they talk about how all poor people are lazy and don’t want to work, it really touches a nerve.

— Mentioning my ex-husband's name still hits a raw nerve.

— On the anniversary of 911, we have extra counselors available on our hotline because the date touches a raw nerve.

— My wife had several miscarriages and a still birth so Mother's Day and seeing infants always hit a raw nerve.

— For my wife, credit card debt really touches a nerve.

— My husband's expensive golf hobby really touches a raw nerve.

— I've noticed your swearing touches a raw nerve with your mother.

— Since my divorce, wedding bells really touch a nerve.

— President Trump's tweets telling people to "go back where they come from" has really touched a raw nerve with minorities.