Definition

Phrasal Verb (Idiomatic): To annoy, irritate, or bother someone persistently; to affect someone emotionally in an irritating way.

Usage

This phrase describes a situation where someone's actions, words, or mere presence causes ongoing and deep irritation to another person. It implies the irritation is not superficial but gets deep inside, affecting one's mood or peace of mind. It is often used in continuous tenses to describe an ongoing state of annoyance.

Examples

• His constant humming gets under my skin. (His continuous humming deeply irritates me.)
• The way she criticizes every little detail is starting to get under my skin. (Her nitpicking is beginning to annoy me persistently.)
• I try to stay calm, but his arrogant attitude really gets under my skin. (His arrogance affects me emotionally and is hard to ignore.)

Advanced Usage

• To have/get under one's skin: This variation can describe a state where someone or something is already a source of deep irritation.
  • Don't let him get under your skin; he's not worth it. (Don't allow him to irritate you so deeply.)
• The phrase can sometimes imply a more complex, lingering emotional effect beyond simple annoyance, such as a preoccupying frustration.

Variants and Related Words

• Get to (someone) (phrasal verb): A very close synonym meaning to annoy or upset someone.
  • The constant noise is really getting to me.
• Irritate (verb): To provoke impatience, anger, or displeasure.
• Annoy (verb): To disturb or bother in a way that displeases, troubles, or slightly irritates.
• Bother (verb): To give trouble to; to annoy.

Synonyms

• Irritate
• Annoy
• Bother
• Vex
• Rankle
• Needle
• Rub (someone) the wrong way

Antonyms

• Please
• Soothe
• Calm
• Pacify
• Delight

Related Idioms

• Drive (someone) up the wall: To make someone extremely annoyed or angry.
  • That screeching sound is driving me up the wall.
• Get on (someone's) nerves: To irritate or annoy someone.
  • His tapping gets on my nerves.
• Rub (someone) the wrong way: To irritate or offend someone, often without intending to.
  • His blunt manner rubs people the wrong way.

Verb

1. irritate
   • Her childish behavior really get to me
   • His lying really gets me