Cut to the quick Meaning in English
expression
ˈkət/ /ˈtu/, /tə/, /tɪ/ /ˈðə/, /ðə/, /ði/ /ˈkwɪk
KUHT to the KWIK
kˈʌt/ /tˈuː/ /ðə, ði/ /kwˈɪk
KUT too the KWIK
Definition
To deeply hurt or offend someone, especially emotionally or personally; to wound someone's feelings badly.
Usage & Nuances
This is an idiom and not related to physical cutting. Formal or literary; used for strong emotional impact. Common with verbs like 'was', 'felt', or 'his words'. Often describes something that 'hurt more than expected'.
Spanish: herir profundamente - afectar profundamentePortuguese (BR): ferir profundamentePortuguese (PT): ferir profundamenteChinese (Simplified): 深深伤害Chinese (Traditional): 深深傷害Hindi: अंदर तक चोट पहुँचानाArabic: جرح المشاعر بشدةBengali: গভীরভাবে আঘাত দেয় - হৃদয় বিদারক কথা বলাRussian: задеть до глубины души - сильно ранитьJapanese: 心の奥深く傷つける - 痛く心に刺さるVietnamese: làm tổn thương sâu sắc - làm đau lòng một cách sâu sắcKorean: 가슴 깊이 상처를 주다 - 마음을 아프게 하다Turkish: derinden yaralamak - yüreğine dokunmakUrdu: انتہائی دل دکھانا - دل کو گہرائی سے چوٹ پہنچاناIndonesian: menyakitkan hati - melukai perasaan dengan dalam
Example Sentences
Her words cut to the quick and made him cry.
basic
It cut to the quick when my friend forgot my birthday.
basic
The criticism cut to the quick, and she was silent.
basic
What you said really cut to the quick; I didn’t expect it from you.
natural
I tried to laugh it off, but his joke cut to the quick.
natural
Losing her trust cut to the quick more than anything else.
natural