get under someone's skin
Provoke persistent irritation
To get under someone's skin is to irritate or annoy them persistently: Her constant criticism really gets under my skin.
The image suggests something burrowing in and causing ongoing discomfort.
Less commonly, it means to affect someone deeply or become an obsession: That song gets under your skin and stays there.
irritate
Cause mild anger
- aggravateMake more severe
- exasperateAnnoy to frustration
- irkTo mildly vex
rankle · needle · provoke · gall · vex · grate · pester · nag · badger · antagonize
disturb
Interrupt or trouble
agitate · trouble · disconcert · faze · fluster · haunt · preoccupy · obsess · linger · prey on
emotional irritation/annoyance
get under someone's skinsoothe
Gently ease discomfort
calm · put at ease · pacify · reassure · relax
emotional preoccupation/obsession
get under someone's skinslip someone's mind
Be unintentionally forgotten