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'!”
(..) Dialogue: Marked=..,Default,NTP,!Effect,And third... Dialogue: Marked=..,Default,NTP,!Effect,...to Mr. Harry Potter... Dialogue: Marked=..,Default,NTP,!Effect,...for pure nerve\Nand outstanding courage... Dialogue: Marked=..,Default,NTP,!Effect,...l award Gryffindor house points. (..)2001 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone