raw

a raw nerve

An intensely negative emotional response to something. Used especially in the phrase "hit/touch a raw nerve." I could tell he was touching a raw nerve when he brought up Jane's former employer, because Jane started staring at him with white-hot fury in her eyes. She has a penchant for hitting raw nerves on her show, so it doesn't surprise me that she's gotten so much hate mail. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to touch a raw nerve there—I didn't know that you and Lydia used to go out.

See also: nerve, raw

catch (one) on the raw

To do or say something (such as mentioning a sensitive topic) that causes one to feel angry, agitated, or self-conscious; to touch a nerve. Primarily heard in UK. I accidentally caught Vanessa on the raw by mentioning her new haircut—apparently, she's really unhappy with it. Your column must have caught the MP on the raw, because we've been served with a defamation lawsuit from his office. I could tell she was touching Jack on the raw when she brought up his former employer.

See also: catch, on, raw

come the raw prawn

slang To act as though one has no knowledge of something. Primarily heard in Australia. I know she's coming the raw prawn with me because her fingerprints were found at the scene of the crime. I can see the chocolate all over your face, so don't come the raw prawn with me—I know you ate my cookies! I didn't come the raw prawn with you on Friday, I honestly didn't know that Eddie and Amanda were dating!

See also: come, prawn, raw

get a raw deal

To receive unfair or poor treatment in a particular situation. Mandy really got a raw deal at that job. They passed her over for so many promotions! That guy got a raw deal from prosecutors. Eighteen years in prison with no chance for parole, all because he refused to give evidence against his friend. I know it sounds like we got a raw deal, but let's see if we can find a way to turn it to advantage.

See also: deal, get, raw

give (one) a raw deal

To subject one to an outcome, situation, or treatment that is cruel or unfair. They really gave Mandy a raw deal at her last job. She worked harder than anyone else, but she was always passed over for a promotion. The prosecutors gave him a raw deal. Eighteen years in prison with no chance for parole, all because he refused to give evidence against his friend. I know it sounds like they gave us a raw deal, but let's see if we can find a way to turn it to advantage.

See also: deal, give, raw

have a raw deal

To be subjected to an outcome, situation, or treatment that is cruel or unfair. Mandy sure had a raw deal at her last job. She worked harder than anyone else, but she was always passed over for a promotion. You've got to admit, that guy had a raw deal. Eighteen years in prison with no chance for parole, all because he refused to give evidence against his friend. I know it sounds like we have a raw deal here, but let's see if we can find a way to turn it to advantage.

See also: deal, have, raw

hit a (raw) nerve

To evoke a strong emotional reaction, such as anger, sadness, or disgust, upon being encountered, heard, read, etc. Your column must have hit a nerve, because we are getting slammed with feedback from readers—and they're not happy. I could tell he was hitting a raw nerve when he brought up Jane's former employer and Jane went silent for a moment. Clearly, I hit a raw nerve by bringing up Dave. I'm so sorry, I truly did not know that you guys had dated.

See also: hit, nerve

in the altogether

old-fashioned Naked. I keep having the dream where I walk into my high school in the altogether! I used to have a roommate who always liked traipsing around the apartment in the altogether. It was so embarrassing! My toddler hates wearing clothes for some reason. He would just rather be in the altogether all day!

See also: altogether

in the raw

1. Completely naked. I have a recurring nightmare where I'm walking through school in the raw. As kids, we had no problem going swimming together in the raw. My roommate constantly hangs around the apartment in the raw. I think I'm going to find a new place to live.

2. At the most basic, crude, or natural state. No matter how friendly a corporation tries to appear, in the raw, they are only ever concerned with making a profit. The world of animals in nature is fascinating and often beautiful, but in the raw, it is a heartless story of death and survival. In the raw, our political system only seems to benefit those people who are already wealthy.

See also: raw

life in the raw

Life in its natural, unembellished state. Most tourists opt to stay in cushy hotels and eat at nice restaurants, missing out on the chance to experience a city's life in the raw.

See also: life, raw

on the raw

In an emotionally sensitive place, as of a topic that cause one to feel angry, agitated, or self-conscious. Primarily heard in UK. I accidentally touched Vanessa on the raw by mentioning her new haircut—apparently, she's really unhappy with it. Your column must have caught the MP on the raw, because we've been served with a defamation lawsuit from his office. I could tell she was touching Jack on the raw when she brought up his former employer.

See also: on, raw

raw deal

An unfair situation or poor treatment. Mandy really got a raw deal at that job. They passed her over for so many promotions!

See also: deal, raw

raw recruit

A man or woman who is inexperienced and newly recruited to some organization. The number of raw recruits for the police force has plummeted for the third year in a row. We're touring around various high schools across the state looking for raw recruits to join the military after they graduate. My job is to turn raw recruits into fully fledged soldiers.

See also: raw, recruit

strike a (raw) nerve

To evoke a strong emotional reaction, such as anger, sadness, or disgust, upon being encountered, heard, read, etc. Your column must have struck a nerve, because we are getting slammed with feedback from readers—and they're not happy. I could tell he had struck a raw nerve when he brought up Jane's former employer and Jane went deathly silent.

See also: nerve, strike

touch (one) on the raw

To do or say something (such as mentioning a sensitive topic) that causes one to feel angry, agitated, or self-conscious; to touch a nerve. Primarily heard in UK. I accidentally touched Vanessa on the raw by mentioning her new haircut—apparently, she's really unhappy with it. Your column must have touched the mayor on the raw, because we've been served with a defamation lawsuit from his office. I could tell she was touching Jack on the raw when she brought up his former employer.

See also: on, raw, touch

touch a (raw) nerve

To evoke a strong emotional reaction, such as anger, sadness, or disgust, upon being encountered, heard, read, etc. Your column must have touched a nerve, because we are getting slammed with feedback from readers—and they're not happy. I could tell he was touching a raw nerve when he brought up Jane's former employer and Jane went silent for a moment.

See also: nerve, touch

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

*in the altogether

 and *in the buff; *in the nude; *in the raw

Fig. naked; nude. (*Typically: be ~; get [into] ~; sleep ~.) The museum has a painting of some ladies in the buff. Mary felt a little shy about getting into the altogether. Bill says he sleeps in the raw.

See also: altogether

*raw deal

an instance of unfair or bad treatment. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) Mary got a raw deal on her traffic ticket. She was innocent, but she had to pay a big fine. I bought a used TV that worked for two days and then quit. I sure got a raw deal. You sure had a raw deal.

See also: deal, raw

raw recruit

a new, inexperienced, or fresh recruit, such as someone just entering the army, navy, police, etc. These boys are nothing but raw recruits. They've never seen a gun up close!

See also: raw, recruit

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

in the altogether

Also, in or stripped to the buff ; in the raw. Naked, nude, as in The art class wanted a model to pose in the altogether, or She was stripped to the buff when the doorbell rang, or He always sleeps in the raw. The first of these colloquial terms dates from the late 1800s. In the buff, a seemingly modern locution dates from the 1600s, buff alluding to a soft, undyed leather, buffskin, that also gave its name to the color. The use of raw, presumably also alluding to raw (undressed) leather, dates from the early 1900s.

See also: altogether

raw deal

An instance of unfair or harsh treatment, as in After 25 years with the bank Bob got a raw deal-no pension, no retirement benefits of any kind, just a gold watch. Raw here means "crude" or "unfair." [First half of 1900s]

See also: deal, raw

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

get a raw deal

COMMON If you get a raw deal, you have been treated unfairly or badly. We must ask why bank customers get such a raw deal. Note: Verbs such as have and receive can be used instead of get. Until quite recently, large ladies had a raw deal. We designed old-fashioned clothes for them. It is not only teaching staff who receive a raw deal in terms of pay and conditions. Note: You can also say that you give someone a raw deal. I have seen numerous cases where the foreign-born minority were given a raw deal and were treated as second-class or third-class citizens. Note: This may refer to someone being dealt a bad hand in a game of cards.

See also: deal, get, raw

touch a nerve

or

touch a raw nerve

COMMON If something that you say touches a nerve or touches a raw nerve, it upsets someone, because you have mentioned a subject that they feel strongly about or are very sensitive about. I realised I had touched a nerve with my remarks. Buchanan's speech touched a raw nerve here at the Capitol. Note: You can also use other verbs such as strike or hit instead of touch. She seemed to strike a nerve when she asked Dr. Lowe about his past life. His remarks clearly hit a raw nerve with congressional Democrats.

See also: nerve, touch

come the raw prawn

mainly AUSTRALIAN, INFORMAL

If someone comes the raw prawn, they try to trick you, especially by pretending not to know about something. Don't come the raw prawn with me, sport, or I'll knock your head off.

See also: come, prawn, raw

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

in the altogether

without any clothes on; naked. informal

1991 Today The mothers…have agreed to pose in the altogether.

See also: altogether

a raw (or rough) deal

a situation in which someone receives unfair or harsh treatment. informal

See also: deal, raw

touch (or hit) a (raw) nerve

provoke a reaction by referring to a sensitive topic.

See also: nerve, touch

come the raw prawn

attempt to deceive someone. Australian informal

In Australian English, a stupid person can be referred to as a prawn .

1959 Eric Lambert Glory Thrown In Don't ever come the raw prawn with Doc, mate. He knows all the lurks.

See also: come, prawn, raw

in the raw

1 in its true state; not made to seem better or more palatable than it actually is. 2 (of a person) naked. informal

See also: raw

touch someone on the raw

upset someone by referring to a subject about which they are extremely sensitive.

See also: on, raw, someone, touch

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

a raw/rough ˈdeal

unfair treatment: Many old people feel they are getting a raw deal from the state: they pay money towards a pension all their working life but discover it isn’t worth much when they retire.

See also: deal, raw, rough

catch/touch somebody on the ˈraw

(British English) upset somebody by reminding them of something they are particularly sensitive about: She touched him on the raw by criticizing his driving.

See also: catch, on, raw, somebody, touch

in the ˈraw

in a way that does not hide the unpleasant aspects of something: If you want to see life in the raw, get a job as a police officer.

See also: raw

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

raw

1. mod. inexperienced; brand new. The raw recruit did as well as could be expected.

2. mod. vulgar; crude; raucous; untamed. I’ve had enough of your raw humor.

3. mod. [of alcoholic spirits] undiluted; neat. I’ll drink it raw—just the way it is now.

4. mod. [of alcoholic spirits] unaged; fiery and strong. My gosh, this stuff is raw! It’ll burn a hole in me.

a raw deal

n. an unfair deal; unfair treatment. My last job was a raw deal. I hope this is better.

See also: deal, raw

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

in the raw

1. In a crude or unrefined state: nature in the raw.

2. Nude; naked.

See also: raw

raw deal

An instance of unfair treatment: got a raw deal from our insurance company.

See also: deal, raw

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.

raw deal, a

Harsh or unfair treatment. The raw in this expression, which originated in America, means “crude.” In 1912 a Canadian dictionary defined the term as “a swindle,” a meaning not much invoked today. E. C. Bentley used the expression in Those Days (1940): “If it was what is known nowadays as a raw deal, they did not mind.”

See also: raw

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer