cut to the quick

/kʌt tuː ðə kwɪk/
phrasal verb★Intermediate💡 hurt deeply◆idiom
◆ What It Really Means
To cause profound emotional pain or humiliation, often by touching on a sensitive topic or revealing a hidden truth.
Literal Meaning
To make a deep cut into the living flesh beneath a nail, which is extremely painful.
Literal Breakdown
cutto make an incision or wound+to the quickreaching the sensitive underlying flesh
◇ Mental Image
Imagine a deep, sharp cut that penetrates to the most sensitive part of the body, causing intense pain. This vivid imagery is used metaphorically to describe emotional wounds that feel just as raw and painful.
◈ When to Use
At a family gathering, someone makes a cruel joke about another person's past failure. The person targeted by the joke feels deeply humiliated and hurt, as if they've been emotionally 'cut to the quick'.
◉ Cultural Note
The phrase originates from Shakespearean English, where 'quick' referred to the living flesh under nails. Over time, the literal meaning faded, and the idiom evolved to describe emotional pain exclusively.
literary

to hurt someone's feelings deeply or emotionally

The rejection letter cut her to the quick, leaving her devastated.

The rejection letter made her feel profoundly hurt.

His friend's betrayal cut him to the quick.

His friend's betrayal caused him deep emotional pain.

💡

Often used to describe emotional pain rather than physical harm.

Collocations

cut someone to the quickcause deep emotional pain to someone

Related Phrases

sting to the quickidiom
cause sharp emotional pain
wound to the quickidiom
inflict deep emotional damage

💡Pro Tip

Avoid literal interpretation

Remember that 'cut to the quick' is always used figuratively to describe emotional pain, not physical injury.

⚡Gold Rule

Use in emotional contexts

This idiom is best used when describing situations that cause significant emotional distress or humiliation.

📖Word Origin

From the literal sense of cutting to the quick (the living flesh under a fingernail or toenail), which is extremely sensitive. The phrase dates back to the 16th century, first appearing in Shakespeare's works (e.g., 'Hamlet'). The figurative use emerged as the literal meaning became less common.

📝Usage Notes

This idiom is formal and literary. It is not used in casual conversation. The phrase emphasizes the depth of emotional pain rather than superficial hurt.

Word Breakdown

cut
to cause pain or damage
verb
+
to the quick
deeply or fundamentally
prepositional phrase
English Dictionary