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cut to the quick

cut to the quick
C c

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [kuht too stressed th ee kwik]
    • /kʌt tu stressed ði kwɪk/
    • /kʌt tuː ðə kwɪk/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [kuht too stressed th ee kwik]
    • /kʌt tu stressed ði kwɪk/

Definitions of cut to the quick words

  • adjective cut to the quick done, proceeding, or occurring with promptness or rapidity, as an action, process, etc.; prompt; immediate: a quick response. 1
  • adjective cut to the quick that is over or completed within a short interval of time: a quick shower. 1
  • adjective cut to the quick moving, or able to move, with speed: a quick fox; a quick train. 1
  • adjective cut to the quick swift or rapid, as motion: a quick flick of the wrist. 1
  • adjective cut to the quick easily provoked or excited; hasty: a quick temper. 1
  • adjective cut to the quick keenly responsive; lively; acute: a quick wit. 1
See all 24 definitions of cut to the quick

Information block about the term

Origin of cut to the quick

First appearance:

before 900
One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English quik lively, moving, swift; Old English cwic, cwicu living; cognate with Old Saxon quik, German queck, keck, Old Norse kvikr; akin to Latin vīvus living (see vital), Sanskrit jivas living, Greek bíos life (see bio-), zoḗ animal life (see zoo-)

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Cut to the quick

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Full grammatical hierarchy of Cut to the quick

cut to the quick popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 98% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

cut to the quick usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for cut to the quick

verb cut to the quick

  • offend — to irritate, annoy, or anger; cause resentful displeasure in: Even the hint of prejudice offends me.
  • revile — to assail with contemptuous or opprobrious language; address or speak of abusively.
  • persecute — to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, especially because of religious or political beliefs, ethnic or racial origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
  • insult — to treat or speak to insolently or with contemptuous rudeness; affront.
  • signify — to make known by signs, speech, or action.
All 230 Synonyms of cut to the quick

Antonyms for cut to the quick

verb cut to the quick

  • compliment — A compliment is a polite remark that you say to someone to show that you like their appearance, appreciate their qualities, or approve of what they have done.
  • praise — the act of expressing approval or admiration; commendation; laudation.
  • laud — to praise; extol.
  • cherish — If you cherish something such as a hope or a pleasant memory, you keep it in your mind for a long period of time.
  • preserve — to keep alive or in existence; make lasting: to preserve our liberties as free citizens.
All 73 Antonyms of cut to the quick

See also

Matching words

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