hit/strike home

1. if something that someone says hits home, it has a strong effect on you because it forces you to understand something unpleasant.

I could see that the criticism was beginning to hit home.

2. if an action or a situation hits home, it has a strong negative effect.

Consumer spending has decreased as tax rises have begun to hit home.

• be on mettle
• be on pins and needles
• be on record
• be on red alert
• be on shit list
• be on someone's ass
• be on someone's back
• be on someone's case
• be on someone's shit list
• be on song
• be on speaking terms
• be on tail
• be on the back burner
• be on the ball
• be on the blink
• be on the bottle
• be on the breadline
• be on the brink of
• be on the brink of doing something
• be on the cards
• be on the case
• be on the crest of a wave
• be on the [expensive/heavy/large etc.] side
• be on the expensive side
• be on the fiddle