| 释义 |
skin-deep, a. and adv.
[f. skin n. 5 + deep a. and adv.]
A. adj. Penetrating no deeper than the skin; superficial, shallow, slight:
a. As a proverbial limitation of beauty, or in similar connexions.
a1613Overbury A Wife, etc. Wks. (1856) 37 All the carnall beauty of my wife, Is but skin-deep. 1687Boyle Martyrd. Theodora iv. (1703) 49 Nor any of our sex ought to think skin-deep beauty as great a blessing, as 'tis an applauded one. 1725Ramsay Gentle Sheph. iv. ii, Beauty that's only skin deep Must fade like the gowans of May. 1740–1Richardson Pamela (1824) I. xcix. 484 Beauty is but a specious..recommendation, a mere skin-deep perfection. 1854Spencer Personal Beauty Ess. (1891) II. 394 The saying that beauty is but skin-deep, is but a skin-deep saying. 1869McLaren Serm. Ser. ii. v. 79 Moses' face shone, but the lustre was but skin deep.
b. Of wounds, incisions, etc. Also transf.
a1613Overbury Charac., Ordinary Fencer Wks. (1856) 112 His wounds are seldome above skin-deep. 1805Jefferson Writ. (1830) IV. 30 The skin-deep scratches, which we can make or find on the surface of the earth. 1841Emerson Method of Nat. Wks. (Bohn) II. 222 But the thunder is a surface phenomenon, makes a skin-deep cut. 1877A. B. Edwards Up Nile xix. 566 As for his wounds, they were literally skin-deep.
c. fig. in various contexts.
1657Trapp Comm., Ps. xvi. 9 Their joy is but skin-deep. 1677A. Horneck Gt. Law Consid. vii. (1704) 399 A few slight and skin-deep reflexions. 1730T. Boston Mem. xii. 434 Denoting the skin-deep joy of ungodly men. 1766Fordyce Serm. Yng. Women (1767) II. x. 130 Skin-deep and short-lived allurements. 1825Lady Granville Lett. (1894) I. 362 The little faults are all skin-deep, and she is excellent. 1889Gretton Memory's Harkback 251 The effect upon the hearers was, after all, but skin-deep.
B. adv. To the depth of the skin; in a superficial manner; superficially, slightly.
1633P. Fletcher Purple Isl. vii. xiv, Caro, cursed damme of sinne,..Yet seems (skin-deep) most fair. 1660F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 218 They have little horns which grow but skin-deep, mooving them as their ears. 1702Steele Funeral ii, When I know her further than Skin-deep, I'll tell you more of my mind. 1796Burke Regic. Peace Wks. 1842 II. 288 Stings that have penetrated more than skin-deep into my mind. 1864Kingsley Rom. & Teut. iv. (1875) 100 He was but a wild man of the woods..polished over skin-deep with Roman civilization. |