What is skin? Pronunciation and usage in English

skin means . Learn how to pronounce and use skin through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of skin

skinnoun

/skɪn/
Definition & pronunciation of skin

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "skin" in English. There are two common pronunciations, and it depends on where you are from!

1. The Most Common American Pronunciation:

  • Sounds like: "skine" (rhymes with "fine")
  • Breakdown:
    • sk - pronounced like the "sk" in "sky"
    • in - pronounced like the "in" in "tin"

2. The Pronunciation Used in British English:

  • Sounds like: "sween" (rhymes with "green")
  • Breakdown:
    • s - pronounced like the "s" in "sun"
    • ween - pronounced similar to "win" but with a slightly more drawn-out "ee" sound.

Here's a quick way to tell which one is being used:

  • If you're in the US: It’s almost certainly "skine".
  • If you're in the UK (or Ireland): It's likely "sween".

Resources to hear the pronunciations:

To help me give you the most relevant pronunciation, could you tell me:

  • Where are you located (or where are you learning English)? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.)

Usage and examples with the word skin in English

Let's break down how to use the word "skin" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with a lot of different meanings! Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. Literal Skin (The Outer Covering)

  • Definition: The outer, protective layer of a living organism, including humans.
  • Examples:
    • "He has very skin." (Referring to his complexion)
    • "Sunscreen helps protect your skin."
    • "Her skin was dry and cracked."
    • "Doctors examine a patient’s skin for signs of illness."
    • "The skin of the apple was still bright red."

2. Skin (As a Material – Animal Hide/Leather)

  • Definition: The outer covering of an animal, used for making leather, clothing, or other products.
  • Examples:
    • "The cowboy wore a skin vest." (Historical context - genuine leather)
    • “They used skin to make shoes.”
    • “The saddle was covered in skin.”
    • “The tan skin of the bear was used for clothing.”

3. Skin (As a Layer or Covering - More General)

  • Definition: A thin outer layer or covering of something. This is a broader meaning than just the physical one.
  • Examples:
    • “The skin of the onion was slippery.” (Referring to the outer layer)
    • “The skin of the tree bark was rough.” (Referring to the outer layer)
    • “The skin of a lake is the surface of the water.” (Referring to the uppermost layer)

4. Skin (Figurative Meanings - Phrases & Idioms)

This is where “skin” gets really interesting!

  • “To get under someone’s skin”: To annoy or irritate someone deeply.
    • "That joke really got under his skin."
  • “Skin deep”: Superficial; not genuine or real. (Referring to someone’s personality or character)
    • “Her beauty was skin deep; she lacked inner wisdom.”
  • “Skin over bones”: Very thin and weak (often referring to appearance - emaciated).
    • “After the illness, he looked skin over bones.”
  • “Take something with a grain of skin”: To approach something with caution or skepticism, acknowledging potential problems.
    • “I’d take the offer with a grain of skin – it sounds too good to be true.”
  • “To feel like skin and bones”: To be extremely thin (physical appearance).
    • "After losing his job, he started to feel like skin and bones."

5. Skin (Slang/Informal)

  • “Skinny”: (Describes a person) Very thin.
    • "He's a bit skinny."

Helpful Tips for Using "Skin" Correctly:

  • Context is Key: The meaning of “skin” is almost always determined by the context of the sentence.
  • Consider the Subject: Is it referring to a person, an animal, or an object?
  • Be Aware of Figurative Usage: The idiomatic expressions involving "skin" can add a lot of color to your writing and speech.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What are you trying to use "skin" in? (e.g., a sentence, a story, a conversation?)
  • Is there a specific context you're interested in (e.g., describing someone's appearance, talking about animal products, etc.)?

Synonyms for the word skin

Idioms of the word skin

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.
      (have) skin in the game
      (North American English, informal)(to have) a personal interest in an organization or activity, and therefore in its success
      • When management and unions sit down at the negotiating table, both sides have skin in the game.
      • The neutral fan with no skin in the game can just sit back and enjoy the spectacle.
      a thick skin
      the ability to accept criticism, offensive remarks, etc. without becoming upset
        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.

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