get under someone’s skin: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘get under someone's skin’ mean?
The idiom "get under someone's skin" means to annoy or bother someone to the point where they feel irritated or angry. It refers to something or someone that has a persistent and intrusive effect on someone's emotions or thoughts.
Idiom Explorer
Stick in someone's craw means to annoy or irritate someone, causing them to feel offended or resentful.
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 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 "go to" is an informal way of expressing annoyance or frustration towards someone or something. It implies a desire for the person or thing to leave or disappear. It can also be used to indicate a sudden, intense reaction or a strong feeling.
The idiom "gnaw someone's vitals" means to deeply trouble or torment someone emotionally or mentally, causing great distress.
The idiom "get up the yard" means to become angry or annoyed. It is commonly used to describe someone who becomes frustrated or irritated.
The idiom "get underneath someone's skin" means to bother or annoy someone deeply, causing them to feel irritated or angry.
Inescapable Irritation
The idiom "get on someone's nerves" is another expression commonly used in English. It is used to describe the act of irritating or annoying someone, often to the point of causing frustration or anger. Although it has a similar meaning to "get under someone's skin," there is a slight difference. "Get on someone's nerves" refers to actions or behaviors that continually bother someone, whereas "get under someone's skin" suggests a deeper emotional impact.
Another related idiom is "stick in someone's craw." This phrase is less commonly used but still conveys a similar meaning. It means to deeply irritate or annoy someone, particularly when something is seen as unfair or unjust. When something sticks in someone's craw, it symbolizes a feeling of being unable to swallow or accept a particular situation.
The idiom "get someone's dander up" is yet another related phrase that describes provoking or irritating someone to the point of anger or frustration. It suggests that something has caused someone's emotions to become aroused or agitated, similar to how "get under someone's skin" evokes a strong emotional response.
"get someone's back up" is yet another idiomatic expression with a similar meaning. When someone's back is up, it means they are in a state of anger or defensiveness. This idiom is often used to describe situations where someone's actions or words have caused someone else to become irritated or provoked. It reflects the idea that someone's behavior has figuratively raised another person's hackles, as if preparing for a fight or confrontation.
The idiom "get underneath someone's skin" carries a meaning similar to "get under someone's skin." Both phrases are used to describe the act of deeply irritating, annoying, or bothering someone. "Get underneath someone's skin" suggests that something has managed to penetrate deeply into a person's emotions, causing discomfort and agitation. This idiom adds a layer of intensity to the act of getting under someone's skin, emphasizing the profound impact it has on someone's emotional state.
While these idioms may have slight nuances in their meanings, they all revolve around the concept of irritating or annoying someone to the point of frustration, anger, or discomfort. People often use these phrases in everyday conversations to describe situations or individuals who consistently and persistently agitate or provoke strong negative emotions. They provide a colorful and expressive way to convey the impact of someone's actions or words on others.
Example usage
Examples:
- His constant whistling really gets under my skin.
- The way she always interrupts me really gets under my skin.
- It gets under my skin when people don't clean up after themselves.
More "Annoyance" idioms
