sore spot

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablefigurative

   A subject that makes someone upset or angry because it reminds them of something painful or embarrassing.

   Grammar: Usually singular with an or the, often followed by with or for: a sore spot with him.

   Patterns

   • touch a sore spot
   • a sore spot with someone

   Money is a sore spot between my brother and me.

   You hit a sore spot when you asked about his old job.

   Her weight is a sore spot, so please do not mention it.

2. 2nouncountable

   A place on the body that hurts when it is pressed or touched.

   Grammar: Literal sense, countable: a sore spot on the heel.

   Patterns

   • a sore spot on something

   The doctor pressed gently on the sore spot on my shoulder.

   New shoes gave me a sore spot on my heel.

   Rub the cream on the sore spot twice a day.

Word forms

Common combinations

touch a sore spot

The question touched a sore spot.

hit a sore spot

I hit a sore spot with the joke.

a sore spot with someone

Politics is a sore spot with my father.

a tender, sore spot

She kept covering the tender sore spot on her arm.

a long-standing sore spot

The merger remains a long-standing sore spot for staff.

Synonyms and how they differ

sensitive subject

Sensitive subject is more neutral and polite, while sore spot implies the person is actually hurt or annoyed.

raw nerve

Raw nerve suggests an even sharper, more recent pain than sore spot.

touchy subject

Touchy subject is casual and focuses on how easily the person gets angry.

bone of contention

Bone of contention is an issue people argue about, not one that hurts one person personally.

Word family

sore adjective

painful or upset

soreness noun

pain from touching or use

spot noun

a particular place or point

sorehead noun

a person who is easily angered, mainly American

Commonly confused: sore spot or soft spot?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “sore spot”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words