scratch the surface

scratch the surface
scratch the surface
1. Lit. to scratch something just on the surface, not extending the mark below the finish into the wood, stone, marble, below. •

There is no serious damage done to the bench. You only scratched the surface.

2. Fig. to just begin to find out about something; to examine only the superficial aspects of something. •

The investigation of the governor's staff revealed some suspicious dealing. It is thought that the investigators have just scratched the surface.

We don't know how bad the problem is. We've only scratched the surface.

* * *
{v. phr.} To learn or understand very little about something. - Usually used with a limiting adverb (as "only", "hardly"). * /We thought we understood Africa but when we made a trip there we found we had only scratched the surface./ * /High school students have only scratched the surface of their subjects, and even after college graduation, they still find there is much more to learn./

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • Scratch the Surface — Álbum de Sick Of It All Publicación 18 de octubre de 1994 Grabación 1994 en Normandy Sound, Warren, Rhode Island Género(s) Hardcore punk …   Wikipedia Español

  • scratch the surface — {v. phr.} To learn or understand very little about something. Usually used with a limiting adverb (as only , hardly ). * /We thought we understood Africa but when we made a trip there we found we had only scratched the surface./ * /High school… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • Scratch the surface — est un album du groupe Sick of It All, sorti en 1994. Ce disque fit émerger le groupe qui devient ainsi un groupe phare de la scène punk/hardcore. Portail du rock Ce document provient de « Scratch the Surface » …   Wikipédia en Français

  • scratch the surface — When you scratch the surface of  something, you have a superficial knowledge or understanding of it …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • scratch the surface — ► scratch the surface deal with a matter only in the most superficial way. Main Entry: ↑scratch …   English terms dictionary

  • Scratch the Surface — est un album du groupe Sick of It All, sorti en 1994. Ce disque fit émerger le groupe qui devient ainsi un groupe phare[réf. souhaitée] de la scène punk/hardcore. Portail du rock …   Wikipédia en Français

  • scratch the surface — phrasal : to make a beginning on a project, progress, a solution of a problem, a field of inquiry, or an investigation * * * scratch the surface see under ↑surface • • • Main Entry: ↑scratch scratch the surface To deal only superficially with an… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Scratch the Surface — Infobox Album Name = Scratch the Surface Type = Album Artist = Sick of It All Released = October 18, 1994 Recorded = 1994 at Normandy Sound, Warren, Rhode Island Genre = Hardcore punk Length = 38:20 Label = Eastwest Records Producer = Sick Of It… …   Wikipedia

  • scratch the surface —    When you only scratch the surface of a problem or subject, you deal with only a small part of it.     Some countries are only scratching the surface of their environment problems …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • scratch the surface — if you scratch the surface of a subject or a problem, you only discover or deal with a very small part of it. Up to now newspaper articles have only scratched the surface of this tremendously complex issue. (usually + of) …   New idioms dictionary

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