cut to the quick

ferire profondamente

Ferire profondamente i sentimenti di qualcuno con parole o azioni.

In inglese semplice: To hurt someone very deeply through your words or actions.

• Her words cut me to the quick.
• His rejection had cut her to the quick.
• She felt cut to the quick by that accusation.

Come si usa: cut someone to the quick (Her cold reply cut him to the quick.); be cut to the quick (He was cut to the quick by their laughter.)

Sinonimi: wound, hurt deeply

Espressioni comuni: cut to the quick, cut someone to the quick

andare al cuore del problema

Affrontare direttamente la questione dolorosa o difficile al centro di un argomento.

In inglese semplice: To discuss the painful or difficult issue at the heart of a subject directly.

• His question cut to the quick.
• The essay cuts to the quick of the debate.
• By mentioning trust, she cut to the quick of their problem.

Come si usa: cut to the quick of something (Her question cut to the quick of our disagreement.)

Sinonimi: get to the heart of, go to the root of

Espressioni comuni: cut to the quick, cut to the quick of something

tagliare fino alla carne viva

Tagliare fino a raggiungere la carne sensibile sotto un’unghia o un altro strato duro.

In inglese semplice: To cut into the sensitive living flesh under a nail or other hard outer layer.

• I cut my nail to the quick.
• The dog yelped when its claw was cut to the quick.
• Take care not to cut those claws to the quick.

Come si usa: cut something to the quick (He accidentally cut the nail to the quick.)

Espressioni comuni: cut to the quick, claws cut to the quick