strike a chord

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

to produce an emotional resonance or recognition in someone, touching something deep in their experience, memory, or values; the phrase draws on the musical experience of a chord — multiple notes sounding simultaneously — as a metaphor for the way a powerful communication touches multiple dimensions of a person's inner life at once; something that strikes a chord does not merely convey information but connects with who the listener is, what they have felt, or what they believe to be true; in creative work, striking a chord with an audience is considered the difference between technically competent expression and genuinely moving art