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[1070] Thin-skinned

🎲 Tongue-in-cheek
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • Excessively sensitive to criticism, insults, or perceived slights.
  • Easily offended, hurt, or upset by others' remarks or actions.

Origin

  • A metaphor comparing emotional resilience to the physical thickness of skin.
  • Thin skin is delicate and easily damaged; similarly, a thin-skinned person is easily hurt emotionally.
  • The concept dates back to the early 17th century. The opposite is thick-skinned.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Sensitive
  • Touchy
  • Easily offended
  • Oversensitive
  • Hypersensitive
  • Easily hurt
  • Prickly

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Touchy
  • Prickly
  • Easily butt-hurt (vulgar slang)
  • Snowflake (often derogatory, politically charged)
  • Gets bent out of shape easily

Vulgar/Emphatic:

  • Can't take a fucking joke/criticism
  • Gets pissed off over nothing
  • Sensitive little prick/bitch (very offensive)

Milder/Formal:

  • Sensitive
  • Highly reactive (to criticism)
  • Easily wounded emotionally
  • Lacks emotional resilience (more clinical)
  • Prone to taking things personally

Situational Appropriateness

  • Generally informal. It's a criticism or negative observation.
  • Can sound condescending or dismissive, especially if said directly *to* the person (Don't be so thin-skinned). Use with caution.
  • Avoid in formal evaluations unless phrased very carefully (e.g., reacts sensitively to feedback).

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • The meaning is usually clear, but the *negative* and potentially *dismissive* connotation might be missed by learners. It implies the sensitivity is excessive or inappropriate.

Examples

  • You can't be so thin-skinned if you want to survive in politics.
  • He took the feedback very personally; he's quite thin-skinned.
  • Don't tease her about her work, she's a bit thin-skinned.

Dialogue

Alex: I tried to give Maria some constructive criticism on her presentation, but she got really upset.

Ben: Yeah, she can be a bit thin-skinned about her work. She puts a lot of heart into it.

Alex: I guess I'll try a different approach next time.

Social Media Examples

  • Comment: Wow, some people in this comments section are incredibly thin-skinned. Can't handle a different opinion.
  • Tweet: Maybe I'm just thin-skinned, but online anonymity seems to make people forget basic kindness. #bekind #internet
  • Forum post: Advice needed: How to give feedback to a colleague who is known to be thin-skinned? #workplace #communication

Response Patterns

  • Agreement: Yes, he is very sensitive. / I know, you have to be careful what you say.
  • Disagreement/Defense: I don't think I'm thin-skinned; that comment was genuinely offensive. / She's not thin-skinned, she just expects respect.
  • Advice: He needs to develop a thicker skin.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • Discussing the specific incident that revealed the sensitivity.
  • Offering advice on how to handle criticism or feedback more constructively.
  • Deciding to be more cautious or gentle in future interactions with the person.

Conversation Starter

  • No. Used to describe a person's perceived sensitivity, usually in response to a specific reaction or as a general observation.

Intonation

  • Stress usually falls on THIN. Try not to be so THIN-skinned.

Generation Differences

  • Understood and used by all generations. The concept of being sensitive vs. tough is universal.

Regional Variations

  • Common in all English-speaking regions.
Sweet tooth
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