Meaning

1 senses

  1. (idiomatic)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.

    заде́ть за живо́еzadétʹ za živóje

Examples

3 sentences

  1. I think I touched a nerve.

    ruДумаю, я затронул больную тему. — odexed

    deIch glaube, ich habe einen empfindlichen Nerv getroffen. — Pfirsichbaeumchen

    Spamster · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · B2Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  2. Did I touch a nerve?

    ruЯ наступил на больную мозоль? — Wezel

    deHabe ich eine empfindliche Stelle getroffen? — Pfirsichbaeumchen

    Spamster · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · B2Open on TatoebaReport a problem

  3. Did I touch a raw nerve?

    ruЯ за живое задел? — sharptoothed

    Hybrid · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · B2Open on TatoebaReport a problem

Translations

3 languages
Русский
By meaning 1
to make a remark or perform a deed which produces a strong response:

Origin

An allusion to the sharp sensation felt when a dentist or surgeon physically disturbs an e

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

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Forms

touches a nerve, touching a nerve, touched a nerve, touched a nerve
Base formtouch a nerve · to touch a nerve
3rd person singulartouches a nerve
Present participletouching a nerve
Past simpletouched a nerve
Past participletouched a nerve

irregular

Present simpleLesson

I, you, we, theytouch a nerve
he, she, ittouches a nerve

Past simpleLesson

all personstouched a nerve

Present perfectLesson

I, you, we, theyhave touched a nerve
he, she, ithas touched a nerve

Future simple (will)Lesson

all personswill touch a nerve

Antonyms

1 antonyms
strike a chord

Lessons for this word

3 lessons

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
totterC2toucantouchB1touchdowntouching
touch a nerve — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto