Definition

Noun: A minor, superficial injury that penetrates only the skin and underlying soft tissue (muscle, fat), without causing damage to vital internal organs, major blood vessels, or bones.

Usage

A "flesh wound" is used to describe an injury that, while potentially painful and bloody, is not life-threatening. It minimizes the severity of a wound, often to reassure someone or to display toughness.

Examples

• "The doctor confirmed it was just a flesh wound; the bullet passed through the muscle without hitting anything critical."
• "It's only a flesh wound," he said, trying to downplay the deep cut on his arm.
• After the minor accident, she was relieved to find she had sustained only a few flesh wounds and bruises.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in a dismissive or ironic way to contrast with a more serious injury, especially in action genres or humorous contexts.
  • Character A: "You've been shot!" Character B: "Tis but a flesh wound!" (A famous humorous quote from Monty Python and the Holy Grail that ironically uses the term while the character has lost a limb).

Variants and Related Words

• Superficial wound: A more clinical synonym.
• Laceration: A deep cut or tear in skin or flesh.
• Puncture wound: A wound caused by a pointed object.
• Grazing wound: A superficial wound where the skin is scraped off.

Synonyms

• Superficial injury
• Minor wound
• Surface wound

Antonyms

• Mortal wound
• Critical injury
• Grievous wound

Related Idioms/Phrases

• "Merely/Just/Only a flesh wound": A common phrase used to explicitly minimize the perceived severity of an injury.
  • "Stop fussing; it's merely a flesh wound."

Noun

1. a wound that does not damage important internal organs or shatter any bones