scratch the surface

verb

To barely begin; to see or do only a fraction of what is possible.

“This beginners' course only scratches the surface of the subject.”

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Meanings

verbscratch the surface (third-person singular simple present scratches the surface, present participle scratching the surface, simple past and past participle scratched the surface)

present singular third person scratches the surface · participle present scratching the surface · participle past scratched the surface · past scratched the surface

  1. idiomaticTo barely begin; to see or do only a fraction of what is possible.

    This beginners' course only scratches the surface of the subject.

Translations

Spanish arañar la superficie, rascar la faz
  • arañar la superficieTranslations
  • rascar la fazTranslations
  • rayar el exteriorTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

scratch the surface. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/scratch%20the%20surface

MLA

“scratch the surface.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/scratch%20the%20surface. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “scratch the surface,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/scratch%20the%20surface.

Source: scratch the surface on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.