surface

below the surface

Into or among the deeper aspects of something, as opposed to those that are most easily identified. When you write your book reports, please look below the surface of the text and analyze the author's stylistic choices. The new CEO needs to take action so that issues don't continue to fester just below the surface. No one would have suspected that their marriage had so much discord below the surface.

beneath the surface

Into or among the deeper aspects of something, as opposed to those that are most easily identified. When you write your book reports, please look beneath the surface of the text and analyze the author's stylistic choices. The new CEO needs to take action so that issues don't continue to fester just beneath the surface. No one would have suspected that their marriage had so much discord beneath the surface.

come to the surface

To emerge; to be revealed or become known. Details of the film's troubled development have recently come to the surface following interviews with some of its cast members. Discrepancies in the yearly budget report only came to the surface after it went through external audit. Don't worry, the truth always comes to the surface eventually.

look beneath the surface

To focus on the deeper aspects of something, as opposed to the traits that are most easily identified. When you write your book reports, please look beneath the surface of the text and analyze the author's stylistic choices.

on the surface

Superficially; considering only the obvious details or outward appearance (of someone or something). On the surface, he seems like a really successful businessman, with his life all put together. But if you pull back the curtain a bit, you realize that his life is a mess. Everything looked fine on the surface, but after we began we realized that the plan was fundamentally flawed.

raise (someone or something) to the surface

To lift someone or something or cause someone or something to float up to the surface of a body of liquid. We attached floatation devices to the swimmer's arms to raise her to the surface. A fleet of 15 two-person submarines attached harnesses to the ancient structure in an effort to raise it to the surface.

scrape (someone or something) up off (something)

To peel or gather something or someone up from some surface, such as the floor or the road, especially when that person or thing is or seems to be stuck to it. I passed out after drinking at the party until 6 AM, and I had to be scraped up off the floor the next morning. I spent about an hour last night scraping dried pizza cheese up off the carpet.

scratch beneath the surface

To focus on the deeper aspects of something, as opposed to the traits or details that are most easily identified or merely superficial. When you write your book reports, please scratch beneath the surface of the text and analyze the author's stylistic choices. The film presents a few interesting ideas, but it fails to scratch beneath the surface with any of them.

scratch the surface (of something)

To do, engage with, or understand something to only a minimal or superficial degree. I know you feel like you know everything about philosophy now, but this introductory course only scratches the surface. Jack never felt satisfied devoting his time and attention to one thing, so instead he's scratched the surface of a number of hobbies and interests.

skim the surface (of something)

To do, engage with, or understand something to only a minimal or superficial degree. I know you feel like you know everything about philosophy now, but this introductory course only skims the surface. Jack never felt satisfied devoting his time and attention to one thing, so instead he's skimmed the surface of a number of hobbies and interests.

touch the surface (of something)

To do, engage with, or understand something to only a minimal or superficial degree. I know you feel like you know everything about philosophy now, but this is an introductory course—it only touched the surface. Jack never felt satisfied devoting his time and attention to one thing, so instead he's touched the surface of a number of different hobbies and interests.

raise someone or something to the surface (of something)

to bring someone or something up to the surface of a body of water. The pull of the inflatable life vest raised Tom to the surface of the water. The divers were able to raise the sunken ship to 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.

on the surface

Superficially, to all outward appearances, as in On the surface he appeared brave and patriotic, but his troops knew better. [Early 1700s]

scratch the surface

Investigate or treat something superficially, as in This feed-the-hungry program only scratches the surface of the problem, or Her survey course barely scratches the surface of economic history. This metaphoric term transfers shallow markings made in a stone or other material to a shallow treatment of a subject or issue. [Early 1900s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

scratch the surface

COMMON If you only scratch the surface of something, you deal with or benefit from a very small part of something much bigger. The council have managed to provide housing for over ten thousand homeless people but they say they have only scratched the surface of the problem. At 13, her potential as a player is enormous and she has only scratched the surface of what she can do.

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

scratch the surface

1 deal with a matter only in the most superficial way. 2 initiate the briefest investigation to discover something concealed.

scratch the ˈsurface (of something)

deal with, understand, or find out about only a small part of a subject or problem: This report only scratches the surface of the problem. OPPOSITE: get to the bottom of something

below/beneath the ˈsurface

what you cannot see but can only guess at or feel: She seems very calm but beneath the surface I’m sure that she’s very upset. ♢ Beneath the surface of this beautiful city there is terrible poverty and suffering, which tourists never see.

on the ˈsurface

when you consider the obvious things, and not the deeper, hidden things: On the surface she can be very pleasant and helpful, but underneath she’s got problems. ♢ The plan seems all right on the surface.

scratch the surface

To investigate or treat something in superficial or preliminary fashion.

on the surface

To all intents and purposes; to all outward appearances: a soldier who, on the surface, appeared brave and patriotic.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

scratch the surface, to

To perform a task or investigate something superficially. This term comes from agriculture, where merely scratching the surface of the earth does not adequately prepare the soil for planting. It was transferred to other activities by the early 1900s. “You haven’t seen anything. They didn’t scratch the surface here,” wrote Lillian Hellman (Days to Come, 1936).

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