Idioms
See raw in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionarycatch/touch somebody on the raw
- (British English) to upset somebody by reminding them of something they are particularly sensitive about
Want to learn more?
Find out which words work together and produce more natural sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app.
hit/touch/strike a (raw/sensitive) nerve
- to mention a subject that makes somebody feel angry, upset, embarrassed, etc.
- You touched a raw nerve when you mentioned his first wife.
- My remarks about divorce had unwittingly touched a raw nerve.
- The article struck a raw nerve as it revived unpleasant memories.
in the raw
- in a way that does not hide the unpleasant aspects of something
- He spent a couple of months on the streets to experience life in the raw.
- (especially North American English) with no clothes on synonym naked
- He likes to walk around the house in the raw.
Check pronunciation:
raw