be onion-skinned (about something)

be onion-skinned (about something)

To be very sensitive or emotionally susceptible to the verbal attacks or criticisms of others. Most commonly used in Southeast Asian English in which the term is a translation of the Tagalog phrase balat sibuyas. For how much she mocks other people, you wouldn't think she'd be so onion-skinned herself. You can't be onion-skinned about rejection if you want to succeed in the entertainment industry. You made fun of his thinning hair? Oh man, he's very onion-skinned about that.

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