Touch a sore spot Meaning in English

expression

US

ˈtətʃ/ /ˈeɪ/, /ə/ /ˈsɔɹ/ /ˈspɑt

TUHCH uh SAWR SPAHT

UK

tˈʌtʃ/ /æɪ/ /sˈɔː/ /spˈɒt

TUCH uh SAW SPOT

التعريف

To mention or bring up a topic that makes someone uncomfortable, upset, or sensitive because it is a personal or emotional issue.

الاستخدام والفروق الدقيقة

This is an informal idiom. Often used with 'I didn't mean to...' or 'You really...' to apologize or note discomfort. Similar to 'hit a nerve'. Avoid using literally for physical pain; it's about emotional or sensitive topics.

• Spanish: tocar un punto sensible - tocar una herida abierta
• Portuguese (BR): tocar em um ponto sensível
• Portuguese (PT): tocar numa ferida aberta
• Chinese (Simplified): 触及痛处 - 提到敏感话题
• Chinese (Traditional): 觸及痛處 - 提到敏感話題
• Hindi: नाज़ुक मुद्दे को छूना - किसी दुखती रग को छेड़ना
• Arabic: لمس الجرح - إثارة نقطة حساسة
• Bengali: সংবেদনশীল বিষয় ছোঁয়া - দুঃখজনক ব্যাপার স্মরণ করানো
• Russian: задеть больное место - попасть на больную тему
• Japanese: 痛いところに触れる
• Vietnamese: chạm vào điểm yếu - nhắc đến chuyện nhạy cảm
• Korean: 아픈 곳을 건드리다 - 민감한 부분을 건드리다
• Turkish: yaralı bir noktaya dokunmak - hassas bir konuyu açmak
• Urdu: کمزور پہلو کو چھونا - حساس موضوع چھیڑنا
• Indonesian: menyinggung titik sensitif - membahas hal yang peka

جمل نموذجية

I'm sorry if I touched a sore spot by asking about your job.

basic

You really touched a sore spot when you mentioned her ex-boyfriend.

basic

The teacher touched a sore spot by talking about the recent test results.

basic

Let's change the subject—I think we've touched a sore spot.

natural

I didn't realize I'd touched a sore spot until he got quiet all of a sudden.

natural

Be careful—you might touch a sore spot if you ask about her family.

natural