to cut to the quick

Examples

• All

• She was cut to the quick when her friend criticized her artwork so harshly.

• Even when it cut to the quick.

  Fiction book (1993)

• "Cut to the quick, Natalie bit deep into her lip to stem her tears, but failed miserably.

  Fiction book (2000)

• "At least I never wore hot pants on stage," was Dorrie's retort, which she knew cut to the quick of Vivian Mangosing's feminist core.

  Fiction book (1998)

• She gives her latest book, which she has worked hard on for three years and is convinced is her best by far, to her younger friend Martine, and is cut to the quick when Martine appraises it judiciously as a restatement of past ideas rather than as a wholly new and original piece of work.

  Academic text (1993)

• His insensitive comments cut to the quick, leaving her feeling deeply hurt.

Synonyms

W

to wound

vsto cut to the quick

110 5.7

To hurt a person's feelings deeply

is about an immediate sharp hurt to feelings rather than long term harm

I

to injure

vsto cut to the quick

52 2.5

Hurt someone's feelings by saying or doing something

is specifically about a sharp emotional wound rather than general harm

B

to break someone's heart

vsto cut to the quick

• Informal

34 3.4

To make someone very sad because of love or disappointment

is a sharp offensive hurt not limited to romantic sadness

S

to sting

vsto cut to the quick

26 3.3

To feel sharp emotional pain after someone says something hurtful

is about a deep lasting emotional hurt rather than brief sharp pain

R

to rip to shreds

vsto cut to the quick

• Informal

10 6.9

Tear something into many pieces or say very bad things about it

is about wounding a person's feelings sharply rather than harsh criticism

C

to cut to pieces

vsto cut to the quick

8 5.4

Break something into many small parts or hurt someone very badly

is focused on a sharp emotional hurt rather than violent destruction

S

to sting like a bee

vsto cut to the quick

• Informal

3 7.7

To say something that hurts someone suddenly and sharply

focuses on deeply wounding feelings rather than sudden forceful attacks

C

to cut to ribbons

vsto cut to the quick

• Informal

2 7.4

To beat someone completely in a competition or argument

targets a deep personal emotional wound rather than total defeat

L

to lacerate

vsto cut to the quick

1 7.6

To deeply hurt someone's feelings

focuses on sharply wounding feelings rather than general distress

H

to have a sting

vsto cut to the quick

1 7.1

To cause a sharp feeling of hurt that lasts for a while

is a more intense sharp wound to feelings rather than lingering discomfort

S

to stick the knife in

vsto cut to the quick

• Informal

1 9.4

Say or do something on purpose to hurt someone who is already in trouble

is about sharply wounding feelings without implying deliberate betrayal

Antonyms

C

to comfort

172 1.0

To make someone feel less upset or in pain

R

to reassure

163 3.4

To make someone feel less worried and more confident

How Hurt

to devastate

221 4.9

to cut to the quick

• Literature

1 7.9

to hurt

∞ 1.0

to upset

362 1.0

to irritate

78 2.9

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology