Verb
strike a nerve (third-person singular simple present strikes a nerve, present participle striking a nerve, simple past struck a nerve, past participle struck a nerve or (rare) stricken a nerve)
Alternative form of touch a nerve
When you have empathy toward your opponents, it helps you destroy them quicker. Because you understand exactly who they are. You understand what buttons to push. You understand if they're insecure, if they fear embarrassment. And you can really hit those buttons to strike a nerve. Kobe Bryant