thick skin

/θɪk ˈskɪn/

noun

Ability to take criticism or harsh behavior without being easily offended.

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Meanings

noun
  1. idiomaticAbility to take criticism or harsh behavior without being easily offended.
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see thick, skin.

Origin

thick + skin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Dutch dikke huid
  • dikke huidthe ability to take criticism
Finnish paksunahkaisuus
  • paksunahkaisuusthe ability to take criticism
German dickes Fell
  • dickes Fellthe ability to take criticism
Polish gruba skóra
  • gruba skórathe ability to take criticism
Cite this entry
APA

thick skin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/thick%20skin

MLA

“thick skin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/thick%20skin. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “thick skin,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/thick%20skin.

Source: thick skin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.