What does the idiom "be/get soaked to the skin" mean?

The expression be/get soaked to the skin is one of the idioms that often finds a place in our literature and enriches our language. However, its meaning is not fully understood, so it is sometimes used in the wrong situations. Please review the explanation carefully for the correct use of the be/get soaked to the skin idiom.

Meaning of "be/get soaked to the skin"

Meaning

The idiom 'be/get soaked to the skin' means to be very wet, usually due to heavy rain or water, so that your clothing is completely soaked and the water has penetrated through your clothing and reached your skin. The idiom emphasizes how wet and uncomfortable one is, and how one might not feel dry and fresh even after taking off their wet clothes.

Etymology

The origin of the phrase 'be/get soaked to the skin' is unknown, but similar phrases like 'soaked through' and 'soaked to the bone' have been found in English literature going back to the 17th century. The phrase 'soaked through' was used in Thomas Otway's tragedy Venice Preserv'd in 1682. The phrase 'soaked to the bone' was first found in The History of Tom Jones by Henry Fielding in 1749.

Usage

The idiom 'be/get soaked to the skin' is mainly used to describe a physical sensation of being wet, uncomfortable, and unable to dry off quickly due to the large amount of water that has penetrated through clothing into one's skin. It is often used when talking about a person who has been caught in a heavy rain, but it can also be used in other contexts, like a person who has been swimming or someone who has been splashed by a large wave.

Example Sentences

  • We were caught in a terrible rainstorm and got soaked to the skin.
  • I was swimming and got completely soaked to the skin.
  • The waves were crashing over the boat and we all got soaked to the skin.

The meanings of the words in the "be/get soaked to the skin" idiom

The universal role of idioms

"Kill two birds with one stone" is an English idiom that means to accomplish two things with a single action. In French, the similar idiom is "Faire d'une pierre deux coups," which translates to "To kill two birds with one stone." This idiom highlights the efficiency of completing two tasks with one action.

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