The company and the union are engaged in a 'war of nerves', with each side threatening the other.
Something she said to him must have 'hit/struck/touched a nerve'. I've never seen him so angry.
“After making the mess, he didn't even offer to help clean it up.” “What (a) 'nerve'!”
(..) - You shall not go, my lord - Hold off your hand - Be ruled, you shall not go My fate cries out, and makes each petty artery in this body as hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve Unhand me gentlemen, or by God I'll make a ghost of him that stays me I say away. Go on, I'll follow thee (..)2015 Hamlet