World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English Dictionaries逆鱗に触れる
Pronunciation / Transliteration: gekirin ni fureru
"彼の発言は人々の敏感な部分に触れた。"
Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
To mention a sensitive subject that unintentionally upsets, offends, or distresses someone.
"His comments about corporate downsizing touched a raw nerve among the senior staff." - 2
To trigger a strong emotional response or defensiveness by hitting upon a painful personal issue.
"When she questioned his career choices, she clearly touched a raw nerve."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the anatomical concept of exposed or sensitive neural tissue (raw nerve), combined with the physical action of touching. First appearing in the mid-19th century, the idiom metaphorically extends physical sensitivity to emotional vulnerability, where a specific topic inadvertently provokes a painful or defensive reaction.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Touch a raw nerve"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Touch a raw nerve" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
toucher une corde sensible
Transliteration: too-shay oon kord sahn-see-bluh
"Sa remarque a touché une corde sensible chez les employés."
einen wunden Punkt treffen
Transliteration: i-nen vun-den punkt tre-fen
"Mit dieser Frage hat er einen wunden Punkt getroffen."
toccare un tasto dolente
Transliteration: tok-ka-re un tas-to do-len-te
"Quella domanda ha toccato un tasto dolente."
tocar una fibra sensible
Transliteration: to-kar oo-na fee-브ra sen-see-ble
"Sus palabras tocaron una fibra sensible en el público."
tocar em um ponto fraco
Transliteration: to-kar em oom pon-to fra-ko
"Ele tocou em um ponto fraco ao mencionar o fracasso anterior."
नाज़ुक पहलू को छूना
Transliteration: naazuk pehlu ko chhoona
"उसकी टिप्पणी ने सबकी एक संवेदनशील नस को छू लिया।"
触及痛处
Transliteration: chù jí tòng chù
"他的话触及了许多人的痛处。"
아픈 곳을 찌르다
Transliteration: apeun goseul jjireuda
"그의 말은 사람들의 아픈 곳을 찔렀다."
逆鱗に触れる
Transliteration: gekirin ni fureru
"彼の発言は人々の敏感な部分に触れた。"
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To move with a muffled, explosive, puffing sound, typically said of a steam engine or a large animal.
Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Touch a raw nerve"
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