strike a nerve

A form of touch a nerve — 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.

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Meanings

verbstrike a nerve (third-person singular simple present strikes a nerve, present participle striking a nerve, simple past struck a nerve, past participle struck a nerve or (rare or archaic) stricken a nerve)

present singular third person strikes a nerve · participle present striking a nerve · past struck a nerve · participle past struck a nerve · archaic participle past rare stricken a nerve

  1. alternativeAlternative form of touch a nerve.
Cite this entry
APA

strike a nerve. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/strike%20a%20nerve

MLA

“strike a nerve.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/strike%20a%20nerve. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “strike a nerve,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/strike%20a%20nerve.

Source: strike a nerve on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.