under (one's)/the skin

under (one's)/the skin

1. Inherently; essentially. In this usage, "the" is used between "under" and "skin." She's really a sweet girl under the skin—her sassy attitude just gets in the way of that sometimes.

2. Said of something that is a source of irritation. In this usage, a personal pronoun is used between "under" and "skin." I just can't stand Dean's voice, so everything he says gets under my skin.

3. Said of someone or something that one is obsessing about. In this usage, a personal pronoun is used between "under" and "skin." I can't get that beautiful girl I met earlier off my mind. She's just under my skin now.

See also: skin

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

under the skin

in reality, as opposed to superficial appearances.

See also: skin

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

under the skin

Beneath the surface; fundamentally: enemies who are really brothers under the skin.

See also: skin

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.