cut someone to the quick
and cut someone to the bone 1. Lit. to slice the flesh of someone or some animal clear through to the underlying layer of flesh or to the bone. With the very sharp knife, David cut the beast to the quick in one blow. He cut his finger to the quick with the sharp knife.
2. Fig. to injure someone emotionally. (See also
cut something to the bone.)
Your heartless comments cut me to the quick. Her remarks cut him to the bone. touched by someone or something
Fig. emotionally affected or moved by someone or something. Sally was very nice to me. I was very touched by her. I was really touched by your kind letter.
touched (in the head)
Rur. crazy. Sometimes Bob acts like he's touched in the head. In fact, I thought he was touched.
cut to the quick
Deeply wound or distress, as in His criticism cut her to the quick. This phrase uses the quick in the sense of a vital or a very sensitive part of the body, such as under the fingernails. It also appeared in such older locutions as touched to the quick, for "deeply affected," and stung to the quick, for "wounded, distressed," both dating from the early 1500s. The current expression was considered a cliché from about 1850 on.
touched by, be
Also, be touched with. Be affected by some emotion, especially a tender feeling like gratitude, pity, or sympathy. For example, She was very touched by his concern for her welfare. This idiom alludes to touching or reaching one's heart, the seat of emotions. [First half of 1300s]
touched in the head
Also, touched. A little bit crazy, somewhat deranged, as in I think the war left him a little touched in the head. [Late 1800s]