touch a sore point

touch (on) a sore point

To evoke a strong and negative emotional reaction in someone; to do or say something that upsets someone in a deeply personal way. Your column must have touched a sore point with readers, because we are getting slammed with negative feedback. I could tell he was touching on a sore point, because Jane went deathly silent when he brought up her former employer.

See also: point, sore, touch

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

touch a sore point

tv. to mention something that upsets someone. I touched a sore point with Larry when I mentioned taxes.

See also: point, sore, touch

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.