Antonyms for cut to the quick


Grammar : Verb
Spell : kwik
Phonetic Transcription : kwɪk


Definition of cut to the quick

Origin :
  • Old English cwic "living, alive, animate," and figuratively, of mental qualities, "rapid, ready," from Proto-Germanic *kwikwaz (cf. Old Saxon and Old Frisian quik, Old Norse kvikr "living, alive," Dutch kwik "lively, bright, sprightly," Old High German quec "lively," German keck "bold"), from PIE root *gweie- "to live" (see bio-). Sense of "lively, swift" developed by late 12c., on notion of "full of life."
  • NE swift or the now more common fast may apply to rapid motion of any duration, while in quick (in accordance with its original sense of 'live, lively') there is a notion of 'sudden' or 'soon over.' We speak of a fast horse or runner in a race, a quick starter but not a quick horse. A somewhat similar feeling may distinguish NHG schnell and rasch or it may be more a matter of local preference. [Buck]
  • Of persons, "mentally active," from late 15c. Also in Middle English used of soft soils, gravel pits, etc. where the ground is shifting and yielding (mid-14c., cf. quicksand). As an adverb from c.1300. To be quick about something is from 1937. Quick buck is from 1946, American English. Quick-change artist (1886) originally was an actor expert in playing different roles in the same performance of a show. Quick-witted is from 1520s.
  • As in insult : verb abuse, offend
  • As in pain : verb bother, trouble
  • As in abuse : verb attack with words
  • As in slur : verb insult
  • As in belittle : verb detract
  • As in wound : verb cause mental hurt
  • As in traumatize : verb inflict trauma
  • As in displease : verb make unhappy
  • As in humble : verb shame, put down
  • As in hurt : verb cause mental pain

Synonyms for cut to the quick

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019