under the skin
under (one's)/the skin
1. Inherently; essentially. In this usage, "the" is used between "under" and "skin." She's really a sweet girl under the skin—her sassy attitude just gets in the way of that sometimes.
2. Said of something that is a source of irritation. In this usage, a personal pronoun is used between "under" and "skin." I just can't stand Dean's voice, so everything he says gets under my skin.
3. Said of someone or something that one is obsessing about. In this usage, a personal pronoun is used between "under" and "skin." I can't get that beautiful girl I met earlier off my mind. She's just under my skin now.
See also: skin
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
under the skin
in reality, as opposed to superficial appearances.See also: skin
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
under the skin
Beneath the surface; fundamentally: enemies who are really brothers under the skin.
See also: skin
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- under (one's)/the skin
- get under someone's skin, to
- be (all) skin and bone(s)
- be skin and bone
- skin back
- Skin me!
- skin up
- tight as a drum
- (as) tight as a drum
- Give me some skin!