thick hide
Resilience to criticism
Thick hide refers literally to the tough, dense skin of certain animals—elephants, rhinoceroses, hippopotamuses.
Figuratively, having a thick hide (or thick skin) means being insensitive to criticism or insult: You need a thick hide to survive in politics.
The image suggests that harsh words bounce off rather than penetrate.
- rhinocerosLarge horned African mammal
- elephantTusked gray giant
- leatherTanned animal skin
- armorProtective combat covering
- emotional armorPsychological self-protection mechanism
callous · tough · tough as nails · insensitive · pachyderm · crocodile · scales · impervious · water off a duck's back · buffalo · tanned · rugged · weathered · protection · stoic · unflinching · roll with punches · cowhide
emotional sensitivity
thick hidethin-skinned
Easily hurt by remarks
easily offended · defensive · insecure · sensitive · sensitivity
thick, hide, thicken, thickly, thickness, thicker, thickest, hides, hid