raw nerve

To "touch," "hit," "strike" a raw nerve - to upset someone by reminding him or her of a subject about which he or she has strong feelings.

1) Alex's mom recently died of lung cancer, so his sister hit a raw nerve by telling him that she had begun smoking.

2) Pam struck a raw nerve in Nick when she told him an anti-Semitic joke. Unbeknownst to Pam, Nick's grandmother died in the Holocaust.

3) Fat jokes touch a raw nerve in Samantha, who used to get made fun of in school for being overweight.

by na na na na na November 4, 2011

me nerves is rubbed right raw!

Newfoundland slang for being annoyed, pestered, irritated. Another way of saying "that gets on my nerves". Another way of saying "my patience is gone". It is also sometimes used as a response - instead of oh my gosh, no way, get outta here.

Mary: How are you today Donna?
Donna: The youngesters are driving me crazy!
Mary: Why, are they being annoying?
Donna: Yes, me nerves is rubbed right raw!
Mary: oh me nerves oh me nerves is gone

by The Gewfie Newfie January 20, 2011