cut to the quick
Hurt someone profoundly
Cut to the quick means to wound someone deeply at an emotional level.
The quick is the sensitive flesh beneath fingernails or toenails—to cut it causes sharp pain.
The phrase describes remarks or actions that hurt where someone is most vulnerable: Her dismissal of his work cut him to the quick.
- injuredHaving sustained harm
- deep woundInjury penetrating below skin
- crucifyExecute on a cross
- stingSharp wound from insect
- woundCoiled, or an injury
cut deep · humble · offend · harsh words · abuse · insult · slur · sear · pierce · vulnerability · hit home · hurt · take it personally · traumatize · betrayal · put down · rejection · emotional pain
cut to the quickglance off
Strike and rebound obliquely
scratch the surface · brush off · go in one ear and out the other · bounce off · water off a duck's back
cutting, cutter, cutters, quick, quickly, quicker, quickest, quicken, quickens