get underneath someone’s skin: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘get underneath someone's skin’ mean?
The idiom "get underneath someone's skin" means to bother or annoy someone deeply, causing them to feel irritated or angry.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "make someone's skin crawl" means to cause a strong feeling of discomfort or disgust in someone.
The idiom "jump in one's skin" means to startle or shock someone, causing a noticeable physical reaction. It often refers to a sudden surprise or fright that causes a person to react quickly or jolt in surprise.
Jump in one's skin is an idiomatic expression that describes the strong, involuntary reaction to a sudden surprise or shock. When someone jumps in their skin, they physically feel their skin tighten or prickling, often accompanied by a visible startle or jolt.
The idiom "jump down someone's throat" means to angrily and aggressively criticize or confront someone about something they have said or done.
The idiom "hurt someone's feelings" means to cause emotional pain or upset to someone by saying or doing something that offends or upsets them.
The idiom "hot under the collar" means to become angry or agitated, often due to a frustrating or irritating situation.
The idiom "have someone's number" means to understand someone's true nature or intentions, often implying that you can see through their facade or deception.
The idiom "have someone's hide" means to punish or criticize someone severely. It expresses the idea of figuratively taking away or damaging someone's skin, as a form of retribution or discipline.
The idiom "have someone's guts for garters" means to be extremely angry with someone and to be prepared to punish or harm them severely.
The idiom "have someone's guts for garters" is a colorful and vivid expression primarily used in British English. It indicates a strong desire to harm or punish someone. The phrase has a long history, dating back to as early as the 17th century.
The idiom "hate someone's guts" means to have a strong and intense dislike or hatred towards someone, often based on negative feelings towards their character or actions.
The idiom "hate someone's guts" is a common phrase in the English language that is used to express an intense dislike or hatred for someone.
The idiom "gnaw someone's vitals" means to deeply trouble or torment someone emotionally or mentally, causing great distress.
Invasive Irritability
The idiom "get under someone's skin" is a popular expression in the English language. It describes situations where someone or something deeply annoys or irritates someone else. It implies that the irritation is not surface-level but goes deeper, affecting a person's emotions or state of mind. This idiom has been in use for several decades and is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.
The origin of this idiom is not clear-cut. One theory suggests that it emerged from the literal discomfort caused by insects or parasites crawling under a person's skin, which understandably provokes a strong reaction. Another theory suggests that it may have originated from the concept of personal space. "Getting underneath someone's skin" represents a violation of boundaries and causes discomfort.
The idiomatic phrase itself is composed of the verb "get," meaning to experience or come into possession of something, and the preposition "underneath," which conveys the idea of something being situated beneath or below. Combined with the possessive pronoun "someone's" and the noun "skin," the idiom takes on a figurative meaning that refers to deep irritation or annoyance.
In usage, "get under someone's skin" can describe a wide range of situations and contexts. It can refer to a person's behavior or actions that consistently bother or upset someone, such as a persistent critic or an irritating habit. It can also describe the impact of certain events or circumstances on an individual's emotions or state of mind, such as a distressing experience or a constant source of stress.
"Get under someone's skin" is related to another idiom, "get on someone's nerves." This phrase also describes situations where someone or something annoys or irritates someone else, but typically on a more surface-level. It refers to actions or behaviors that bother someone without necessarily affecting their emotions at a deeper level. While "get under someone's skin" implies a deeper level of irritation, "get on someone's nerves" suggests a more superficial irritation.
While the idiom "get under someone's skin" is often used in a negative context, it can also be used more neutrally or positively, depending on the context and tone. For example, someone might say, "Her determination to succeed really gets under my skin," which could imply a strong admiration or respect for the person's drive and motivation.
"Get under someone's skin" and "get on someone's nerves" are both idiomatic expressions that emphasize irritating or bothersome situations. The former implies a deeper level of irritation, while the latter suggests a more surface-level annoyance. Both idioms are commonly used in everyday language and provide a succinct way to convey feelings of irritation or annoyance.
Ultimately, idiomatic expressions like "get under someone's skin" and "get on someone's nerves" serve as tools for effective communication. They allow individuals to express their emotions and experiences in a concise and impactful manner. These idioms encapsulate common human experiences and provide a shared language for individuals to relate to and understand one another.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "get underneath someone's skin" can be used in a sentence:
- His constant criticism really got underneath her skin, and she couldn't help but snap back at him.
- The rude comments from her classmates got underneath Sarah's skin, making her feel self-conscious about her appearance.
- That repetitive song playing in the background gets underneath my skin and drives me crazy!
More "Annoyance" idioms
