🇮🇹Italian Source WordCode: IT

nota dolente

Pronunciation / Transliteration: nota doˈlɛnte

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Sore spot/ˈsɔːr spɒt/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #14500 frequency
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🇮🇹 Example Sentence in Italian:

"Il suo passato scolastico è una nota dolente."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A subject or issue that is sensitive or embarrassing for someone, and which they prefer not to talk about.

    "Bringing up his failed business venture proved to be a sore spot during the interview."
  2. 2

    A physical part of the body that is tender or painful when touched.

    "He massaged the sore spot on his shoulder after the intense workout."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the physical sensation of a bruised or inflamed area of the body ('sore') combined with 'spot' (a specific location), recorded since the 19th century. The phrase evolved metaphorically to describe psychological vulnerabilities or sensitive topics that cause emotional pain or defensiveness when broached.

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