I will share 20 skin idioms, their meanings, and examples. From “thick-skinned” to “skin in the game,” each idiom is explained with beauty. if you understand these skin idioms can enrich your English expressions. These idioms use “skin” to convey various meanings and contexts.
You’ll find idioms for everyday use, humorous contexts, and those related to skin and hair. This guide is structured to provide clear, concise meanings and examples, enhancing your English vocabulary effectively.
list of 20 idioms for skin
- Thick-skinned
- Thin-skinned
- Beauty is only skin deep
- By the skin of your teeth
- Get under someone’s skin
- Save your own skin
- Jump out of your skin
- Skin and bones
- Skin of the game
- Keep your skin
- Thick as a brick
- Skating on thin ice
- Banana skin idiom
- By the skin of your teeth
- Slip through one’s fingers
- All skin and bones
- Make one’s skin crawl
- Beauty is skin deep
- Scalp someone
- Skin off my nose
Best Idioms for Skin
Thick-skinned
Meaning: Not easily upset.
Example: She’s thick-skinned and doesn’t mind criticism.
Thin-skinned
Meaning: Easily upset.
Example: He’s thin-skinned and takes every comment personally.
Beauty is only skin deep
Meaning: Outer beauty is superficial.
Example: She’s beautiful, but beauty is only skin deep.
By the skin of your teeth
Meaning: Barely managing.
Example: I passed the exam by the skin of my teeth.
Get under someone’s skin
Meaning: Annoy or irritate.
Example: His comments really get under my skin.
Save your own skin
Meaning: Protect oneself.
Example: He lied to save his own skin.
Jump out of your skin
Meaning: Extremely surprised.
Example: I nearly jumped out of my skin when he shouted.
Skin and bones
Meaning: Very thin.
Example: The stray dog was just skin and bones.
- Skin of the game
Meaning: Involved or invested.
Example: Investors have skin in the game with this project.
Keep your skin
Meaning: Survive a dangerous situation.
Example: He managed to keep his skin in the war.
Thick as a brick
Meaning: Very thick-skinned.
Example: He’s as thick as a brick when it comes to insults.
Skating on thin ice
Meaning: Taking a risk.
Example: You’re skating on thin ice by ignoring the warnings.
Funny Idioms for Skin
Banana skin idiom
Meaning: Embarrassing mistake.
Example: His speech was a banana skin moment.
By the skin of your teeth
Meaning: Narrowly succeed.
Example: He avoided the accident by the skin of his teeth.
Slip through one’s fingers
Meaning: Miss an opportunity.
Example: The job offer slipped through his fingers.
All skin and bones
Meaning: Extremely thin.
Example: After the illness, he was all skin and bones.
Idioms for Skin and Hair
Make one’s skin crawl
Meaning: Feel disgusted.
Example: The creepy story made my skin crawl.
Beauty is skin deep
Meaning: Appearance isn’t everything.
Example: Beauty is skin deep, but kindness goes further.
Scalp someone
Meaning: To defeat decisively.
Example: The team scalped their opponents in the game.
Skin off my nose
Meaning: Not affecting me.
Example: It’s no skin off my nose if you’re late.
What does “thick-skinned” mean?
“Thick-skinned” means not being easily upset or affected by criticism. For example, someone who remains calm and unbothered by negative comments is thick-skinned.
How is “beauty is only skin deep” used?
“Beauty is only skin deep” emphasizes that physical appearance is superficial and not as important as a person’s character. For example, a kind person might remind us that true value lies beyond looks, illustrating the idiom’s meaning.
Can you explain “by the skin of your teeth”?
“By the skin of your teeth” means narrowly escaping or achieving something. For instance, if you barely pass an exam, you did so by the skin of your teeth.
