penetrate

Related to penetrate: penetrate into

penetrate (something) with (something)

To use something in order to pierce something else. We'll have to penetrate the rock layer with dynamite. The sniper penetrated the armored window with a high-caliber, high-velocity rifle.
See also: penetrate

penetrate into (someone or something)

To pierce, enter into, and stop inside of someone or something. The bullet penetrated into my chest through the body armor, but it thankfully did not pierce my heart or lungs. All kinds of radio waves penetrate into us throughout the day, but none are known to be harmful.
See also: penetrate

penetrate through (someone or something)

To pierce and pass completely through someone or something. The bullet penetrated through my body armor, but thankfully only pierced the skin of my chest. I hate getting X-rays—I just feel like anything that can penetrate through you is probably not the safest thing in the world!
See also: penetrate, through
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

penetrate into someone or something

to pierce into someone or something; to stick deep into someone or something. The lance penetrated into the knight, right through his armor. The bullet penetrated into the wall.
See also: penetrate

penetrate something with something

to pierce something with something. I could not even penetrate the steel door with a cold chisel. It was easy to penetrate the lid with a can opener.
See also: penetrate

penetrate through something

to pierce all the way through something. (Some people will view the through as redundant.) The bullet could not penetrate through the metal plating. It did not have enough force to penetrate through the steel.
See also: penetrate, through
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • a/the feel of (something)
  • a necessary evil
  • (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
  • a straw will show which way the wind blows
  • a crack at (someone or something)
  • all right
  • (you) wanna make something of it?
  • all for the best
  • a thing of the past
  • a slew of (something)
References in periodicals archive
This also brings up questions about how deep UV light penetrates given the specific conditions at hand, and how much UV is necessary to brighten UV lures to a meaningful level.
UV light on ice and open water
When the dyes are heated in this transfer process, they vaporize, and if they are in close proximity to a suitable substrate, such as a plastic or coating, the vapors penetrate the adjacent substrate by around 0.002 in.
Dye sublimation printing: durable color decoration for 3D parts
The millimetre waves cannot go through walls, but they can penetrate most clothing, officials said.
INTERNATIONAL: Non-lethal ray gun feels hot, hot, hot
(1) EPIPELAGIC ZONE: Sunlight easily penetrates this zone, making living plants plentiful.
Aliens of the deep: meet the most peculiar creatures that call Earth home
Ability to Penetrate Improved Regardless of Severity
VARDENAFIL IMPROVES ERECTILE FUNCTION REGARDLESS OF AGE
Further, to penetrate these new markets, small businesses may consider temporarily lowering prices (perhaps incurring losses) on sales of their products relative to prices for otherwise comparable products in the same markets.
Small business market-share strategies and transfer-pricing certainty
"The agreement enables FPDI to quickly penetrate the lucrative commercial and government markets with our technology and services," said Jean Reiczyk, FPDI chairman and CEO.
SAIC TARGETS MARKETS WITH FRONT PORCH DIGITAL MEDIA CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY
The cosmic rays that come from all the stars envelop and penetrate the biosphere, and everything within it.
Vladimir Vernadsky: the biosphere and the cosmos
When a door is at enough of an angle, the hardness and shape of a ball round will cause it to penetrate the first layer of steel but will alter its direction enough to keep it from penetrating through the door.
Vehicle Cover
Emitted over the entire surface of the phone, these waves penetrate users' brains.
Bad for your health
The Romans had distinguished fellare (to suck a penis) from irrumare (to penetrate somebody's mouth with a penis).
Forbidden Friendships: Homosexuality and Male Culture in Renaisance Florence
Taisen Iguchi confirmed the ability of bisphenol A, used in the production of phenolic and epoxy resins, to penetrate the tissue in experiments using mice.
Hormone-disrupting substance penetrates brain tissue
Water repellent preservatives contain wax or silicone plus other ingredients that penetrate the wood's surface and repel moisture.
Low maintenance deck finishes
The man spreads her legs and prepares, or so it seems, to penetrate her (him?) from behind.
Paco Vacas