cut to the quick (English, verb)
expansion: cut to the quick (third-person singular simple present cuts to the quick, present participle cutting to the quick, simple past and past participle cut to the quick)
Senses:
glosses: To hurt a person deeply, especially emotionally.
tags: figuratively
transitive
glosses: To incisively discuss the underlying sensitive or unpleasant root of a given topic.
tags: figuratively
glosses: Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see cut, quick.
Forms:
form: cuts to the quick
tags: present
singular
third-person
form: cutting to the quick
tags: participle
present
form: cut to the quick
tags: participle
past
form: cut to the quick
tags: past