get under someone's skin

Meaning

This idiom means to annoy, irritate, or deeply affect someone, often in a way that they cannot stop thinking about. It suggests a persistent irritation that is hard to ignore, like an itch under the skin. It can also occasionally mean to deeply attract or captivate someone, but the negative 'annoy' meaning is far more common.

Examples

• His constant whistling is really starting to get under my skin.

  His constant whistling is really starting to get under my skin.

• Don't let his rude comments get under your skin; he's just trying to provoke you.

  Don't let his rude comments get under your skin; he's just trying to provoke you.

• Her arrogant attitude always gets under my skin.

  Her arrogant attitude always gets under my skin.

• The way they chew food so loudly really gets under her skin.

  The way they chew food so loudly really gets under her skin.

• I tried to ignore the criticism, but it somehow got under my skin.

  I tried to ignore the criticism, but it somehow got under my skin.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He got under my skins with his remarks.

  ✓ He got under my skin with his remarks.

  The word 'skin' must always be singular in this idiom.

• ✗ Her behavior got under me skin.

  ✓ Her behavior got under my skin.

  Ensure you use the correct possessive pronoun (my, your, his, her, their) to match the person being annoyed.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I know she is annoying, but you shouldn't let her ________.

  💡 Irritate or bother you deeply

  Show answer

  get under your skin

• My brother knows exactly how to ________ with his sarcastic jokes.

  💡 Annoy or irritate me persistently

  Show answer

  get under my skin