# touch a nerve

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/touch-a-nerve
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To make a remark or perform a deed which produces a strong response, especially an emotional response such as anxiety or annoyance, because it calls to mind something which has been a source of concern or embarrassment.

## Examples

- I think I touched a nerve when I asked about his job.
- You touch a nerve whenever you bring up my old car.
- She did not mean to be rude, but her comment about the budget clearly touched a nerve with the manager.
- Mentioning the failed project during the meeting touched a nerve, as the team spent months working on it before it was canceled.
- The documentary about social inequality touched a nerve with many viewers who feel the current system is unfair to their families.
- By questioning the legitimacy of the inheritance, the lawyer inadvertently touched a nerve, causing the usually composed heir to react with sudden, defensive hostility.

## Origin

The idiom is an allusion to the sensation experienced when a surgeon or dentist physically disturbs an exposed nerve. It captures the precision of an unintended contact, where a brief physical encounter results in a sharp and immediate reaction from the patient.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.