# touch a nerve

> English word · Verb

## Definitions
1. 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.

## Etymology
An allusion to the sharp sensation felt when a dentist or surgeon physically disturbs an exposed nerve.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/touch-a-nerve