skin
noun /skɪn/
/skɪn/
Idioms - [uncountable, countable] the layer of tissue that covers the body
- to have dark/pale skin
- skin cancer
- She said she was treated unfairly because of the colour of her skin.
- skin colour/tone
- to have brown/fair/olive skin
- to have dry/oily skin
- cosmetics for sensitive skins
- The snake sheds its skin once a year.
- They were both soaked to the skin and shivering from cold.
- He could feel the sun on his skin.
- the wrinkled skin of his face
- dead skin cells
- to have a skin test
Collocations Physical appearancePhysical appearancesee also foreskin- A person may be described as having:
- (bright) blue/green/(dark/light) brown/hazel eyes
- deep-set/sunken/bulging/protruding eyes
- small/beady/sparkling/twinkling/(informal) shifty eyes
- piercing/penetrating/steely eyes
- bloodshot/watery/puffy eyes
- bushy/thick/dark/raised/arched eyebrows
- long/dark/thick/curly/false eyelashes/lashes
- a flat/bulbous/pointed/sharp/snub nose
- a straight/a hooked/a Roman/(formal) an aquiline nose
- full/thick/thin/pouty lips
- dry/chapped/cracked lips
- flushed/rosy/red/ruddy/pale cheeks
- soft/chubby/sunken cheeks
- white/perfect/crooked/protruding teeth
- a large/high/broad/wide/sloping forehead
- a strong/weak/pointed/double chin
- a long/full/bushy/wispy/goatee beard
- a long/thin/bushy/droopy/handlebar/pencil moustache
- pale/fair/olive/dark/tanned skin
- dry/oily/smooth/rough/leathery/wrinkled skin
- a dark/pale/light/sallow/ruddy/olive/swarthy/clear complexion
- deep/fine/little/facial wrinkles
- blonde/blond/fair/(light/dark) brown/(jet-)black/auburn/red/(British English) ginger/grey hair
- straight/curly/wavy/frizzy/spiky hair
- thick/thin/fine/bushy/thinning hair
- dyed/bleached/soft/silky/dry/greasy/shiny hair
- long/short/shoulder-length/cropped hair
- a bald/balding/shaved head
- a receding hairline
- a bald patch/spot
- a side/centre(British English) parting
- a long/short/thick/slender/(disapproving) scrawny neck
- broad/narrow/sloping/rounded/hunched shoulders
- a bare/broad/muscular/small/large chest
- a flat/swollen/bulging stomach
- a small/tiny/narrow/slim/slender/28-inch waist
- big/wide/narrow/slim hips
- a straight/bent/arched/broad/hairy back
- thin/slender/muscular arms
- big/large/small/manicured/calloused/gloved hands
- long/short/fat/slender/delicate/bony fingers
- long/muscular/hairy/shapely/(both informal, often disapproving) skinny/spindly legs
- muscular/chubby/(informal, disapproving) flabby thighs
- big/little/small/dainty/wide/narrow/bare feet
- a good/a slim/a slender/an hourglass figure
- be of slim/medium/average/large/athletic/stocky build
Extra ExamplesTopics Bodya2- A network of veins showed through his skin.
- Beneath his skin, the muscles were tight with tension.
- Her skin was glistening with sweat after her run.
- I examined the puffy skin under my eyes.
- Jenny is small and slender with porcelain skin.
- Smoking undoubtedly ages the skin.
- The sheets felt nice next to his bare skin.
- There was a patch of raw skin on my back where the sun had burned it.
- Avoid skin contact with the glue.
- I picked up the kitten by the loose skin on its neck.
- The skin on your feet may get dry and cracked.
- Some poisons can be absorbed through the skin.
- The oil is diluted and rubbed into the skin.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- beautiful
- clear
- fine
- …
- break
- burn
- damage
- …
- glisten
- glow
- age
- …
- allergy
- burns
- cancer
- …
- against the/your skin
- beneath the/your skin
- on the/your skin
- …
- skin and bone
- skin and bones
- (in adjectives) having the type of skin mentioned
- dark-skinned
- fair-skinned
More Like This Compound adjectives for physical characteristicsCompound adjectives for physical characteristicsTopics Appearancea2- -beaked
- -bellied
- -billed
- -blooded
- -bodied
- -cheeked
- -chested
- -eared
- -eyed
- -faced
- -fingered
- -footed
- -haired
- -handed
- -headed
- -hearted
- -hipped
- -lidded
- -limbed
- -mouthed
- -necked
- -nosed
- -skinned
- -tailed
- -throated
- -toothed
- [countable, uncountable] (often in compounds) the skin of a dead animal with or without its fur, used for making leather, etc.
- The skins are removed and laid out to dry.
- animal skins
- a tiger-skin rug
- skin of something They would wear the skins of animals they had killed.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- animal
- crocodile
- goat
- …
- cure
- tan
enlarge image[countable, uncountable] the outer layer of some fruits and vegetables- Remove the skins by soaking the tomatoes in hot water.
- a chemical found in the skin of grapes
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- banana
- onion
- potato
- …
- peel off
- remove
- [countable, uncountable] the thin outer layer of a sausage
- Prick the skins before grilling.
- [countable, uncountable] the thin layer that forms on the surface of some liquids, especially when they become cold after being heated
- A skin had formed on the top of the milk.
- She skimmed the skin off the cocoa.
- [countable] a layer that covers the outside of something
- the outer skin of the earth
- the metal skin of the aircraft
- (also wrap)[countable] a special cover for any small electronic device that you can carry with you
- Do phone skins protect your phone?
- You can create your own custom skin for your iPod.
- The skin has a clear protective layer.
- [countable] (computing) the interface of a computer program (= the way a computer program presents information on screen), that the user can change as they wish
on body
-skinned
of dead animal
of fruit/vegetables
of sausage
on liquids
outside layer
in a computer program
Word Originlate Old English scinn, from Old Norse skinn; related to Dutch schinden ‘flay, peel’ and German schinden.
Idioms
by the skin of your teeth
- (informal) if you do something by the skin of your teeth, you only just manage to do it
- He escaped defeat by the skin of his teeth.
get under somebody’s skin
- (informal) to annoy somebody
- Don't let him get under your skin.
have got somebody under your skin
- (informal) to be extremely attracted to somebody
it’s no skin off my, your, his, etc. nose
- (informal) used to say that somebody is not upset or annoyed about something because it does not affect them in a bad way
jump out of your skin
- (informal) to move violently because of a sudden shock
- She nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw me.
make your skin crawl
- to make you feel afraid or full of horror
- Just the sight of him makes my skin crawl.
save your (own) skin/hide/neck
- to try to avoid death, punishment, etc., especially by leaving others in an extremely difficult situation
- To save his own skin, he lied and blamed the accident on his friend.
(nothing but/all/only) skin and bone
- (informal) extremely thin in a way that is not attractive or healthy
- The dog lost more and more weight, and was soon little more than skin and bone.
- He's all skin and bone after his illness.
a thick skin
- the ability to accept criticism, offensive remarks, etc. without becoming upset opposite a thin skin see also thick-skinned
a thin skin
- the lack of ability to accept criticism, offensive remarks, etc. without becoming upset
- You shouldn’t be in politics if you have such a thin skin.