strike a chord

verb

1. create an emotional response (Freq. 1)

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The music struck a chord with the listeners

• Hypernyms: ↑resonate, ↑come across

• Verb Frames:

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Somebody ——s

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Something is ——ing PP

2. refer to or be relevant or familiar to

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I hope this message hits home!

• Syn: ↑hit home, ↑strike home, ↑strike a note

• Hypernyms: ↑affect, ↑impress, ↑move, ↑strike

• Verb Frames:

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Something ——s

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Something is ——ing PP

3. evoke a reaction, response, or emotion

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this writer strikes a chord with young women

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The storyteller touched a chord

• Syn: ↑touch a chord

• Hypernyms:

↑arouse, ↑elicit, ↑enkindle, ↑kindle, ↑evoke, ↑fire, ↑raise, ↑provoke

• Verb Frames:

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Something ——s

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Somebody ——s

* * *

strike a chord

To prompt a feeling of recognition, familiarity, empathy, etc

• • •

Main Entry: ↑chord

* * *

I strike (or touch) a chord

affect or stir someone's emotions

the issue of food safety strikes a chord with almost everyone

Origin:

with figurative reference to the emotions being the ‘strings’ of the mind visualized as a musical instrument

II

see chord II

* * *

strike a chord — see ↑chord, 2

• • •

Main Entry: ↑strike