get under skin


the external covering or integument of an animal body, especially when soft and flexible.
such an integument stripped from the body of an animal, especially a small animal; pelt: a beaver skin.
the tanned or treated pelt or hide of an animal, especially when used in apparel and accessories; leather (usually used in combination): pigskin; calfskin.
any integumentary covering, casing, outer coating, or surface layer, as an investing membrane, the rind or peel of fruit, or a film on liquid: a skin of thin ice; the aluminum skin of an airplane.
the outermost layer of a pearl.
the outermost layer of a diamond as found: often different in color and refraction from the inner part of the stone.
the shell or ceiling of a hull.
the outer, exposed part of a furled sail.
Metallurgy. an outer layer of a metal piece having characteristics differing from those of the interior.
a container made of animal skin, used for holding liquids, especially wine.
Slang. condom.
skins, Slang. drums.
Slang. a swindler; cheat.
Slang. a skinflint.
Slang. a horse.
Slang. a dollar bill.
Rocketry. the outer surface of a missile or rocket.
verb (used with object), skinned, skinning.
to strip or deprive of skin; flay; peel; husk.
to remove or strip off (any covering, outer coating, surface layer, etc.).
to scrape or rub a small piece of skin from (one's hand, leg, etc.), as in falling or sliding against something: She skinned her knee.
to urge on, drive, or whip (a draft animal, as a mule or ox).
to climb or jump: He skinned the rope to the top of the wall.
to cover with or as if with skin.
Slang. to strip of money or belongings; fleece, as in gambling.
Cards. to slide cards one at a time off the top of (the pack) in dealing.
Slang. to defeat completely: skinned at the polls.
Slang. to castigate; reprimand: skinned for his disobedience.
verb (used without object), skinned, skinning.
Slang. to slip off or depart hurriedly (often followed by out ).
Slang. showing or featuring nude persons, often in a sexually explicit way: a skin magazine.
presenting films, stage shows, exhibitions, etc., that feature nude persons, especially in a sexually explicit way: a Times Square skin house.
by the skin of one's teeth, Informal. by an extremely narrow margin; just barely; scarcely: We made the last train by the skin of our teeth.
get under one's skin, Slang.
to irritate; bother: His laugh really gets under my skin.
to affect deeply; impress; penetrate: That sort of music always gets under my skin.
have a thick skin, to be insensitive to criticism or rebuffs: The complaint desk is a job for someone who has a thick skin.
have a thin skin, to be extremely sensitive to criticism or rebuffs; be easily offended: Be careful what you say to me, I have a thin skin.
in/with a whole skin, without harm; unscathed; safely: She escaped from the burning building with a whole skin.
no skin off one's back/nose/teeth, Slang. of no interest or concern or involving no risk to one.
save one's skin, Informal. to avoid harm, especially to escape death: They betrayed their country to save their skins.
skin alive, Informal.
to reprimand; scold.
to subdue completely, especially in a cruel or ruthless manner: The home team was skinned alive this afternoon.
under the skin, in essence; fundamentally; despite appearances or differences: sisters under the skin.

1150–1200; Middle English (noun) < Old Norse skinn; cognate with dialectal German Schinde skin of fruit

skinlike, adjective
underskin, noun
unskinned, adjective

2. fur. Skin, hide, pelt are names for the outer covering of animals, including humans. Skin is the general word: an abrasion of the skin; the skin of a muskrat. Hide applies to the skin of large animals, as cattle, horses, or elephants: a buffalo hide. Pelt applies to the untanned skin of smaller animals: a mink pelt. 4. hull, shell, husk, crust. Unabridged
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World English Dictionary
skin (skɪn)
1.  a.  the tissue forming the outer covering of the vertebrate body: it consists of two layers (the dermis and epidermis), the outermost of which may be covered with hair, scales, feathers, etc. It is mainly protective and sensory in function
 b.  dermis See also epidermis (as modifier): a skin disease Related: cutaneous, dermatoid
2.  a person's complexion: a fair skin
3.  any similar covering in a plant or lower animal
4.  any coating or film, such as one that forms on the surface of a liquid
5.  Compare hide unsplit leather made from the outer covering of various mammals, reptiles, etc
6.  the outer covering of a fur-bearing animal, dressed and finished with the hair on
7.  a container made from animal skin
8.  the outer covering surface of a vessel, rocket, etc
9.  a person's skin regarded as his life: to save one's skin
10.  informal (often plural) (in jazz or pop use) a drum
11.  informal short for skinhead
12.  slang a cigarette paper used for rolling a cannabis cigarette
13.  slang (Irish) a person; sort: he's a good old skin
14.  by the skin of one's teeth by a narrow margin; only just
15.  informal get under one's skin to irritate one
16.  jump out of one's skin to be very startled
17.  informal no skin off one's nose not a matter that affects one adversely
18.  skin and bone extremely thin
19.  thick skin an insensitive nature
20.  thin skin a sensitive nature
vb , skins, skinning, skinned
21.  (tr) to remove the outer covering from (fruit, etc)
22.  (tr) to scrape a small piece of skin from (a part of oneself) in falling, etc: he skinned his knee
23.  (often foll by over) to cover (something) with skin or a skinlike substance or (of something) to become covered in this way
24.  slang (tr) to strip of money; swindle
25.  relating to or for the skin: skin cream
26.  slang chiefly (US) involving or depicting nudity: skin magazines
Related: cutaneous, dermatoid
[Old English scinn, from Old Norse skinn]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Word Origin & History

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

skin (skĭn)
The membranous tissue forming an external protective covering or integument of an animal and consisting of the epidermis and dermis. v. skinned, skin·ning, skins
To bruise, cut, or injure the skin of.

skin'less adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
skin   (skĭn)  Pronunciation Key 
The outer covering of a vertebrate animal, consisting of two layers of cells, a thick inner layer (the dermis) and a thin outer layer (the epidermis). Structures such as hair, scales, or feathers are contained in the skin, as are fat cells, sweat glands, and sensory receptors. Skin provides a protective barrier against disease-causing microorganisms and against the sun's ultraviolet rays. In warm-blooded animals, it aids in temperature regulation, as by insulating against the cold.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary

skin definition

The external tissue that covers the body. As the body's largest organ (it makes up about one twenty-fifth of an adult's weight), the skin serves as a waterproof covering that helps keep out pathogens and protects against temperature extremes and sunlight. The skin also contains special nerve endings that respond to touch, pressure, heat, and cold. The skin has an outer layer, or epidermis, and a layer immediately below, called the dermis.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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