scratch the surface

phrase

: to make a modest effort or start

Examples of scratch the surface in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But the tireless churn of his storytelling, picking up and depositing little clues of what came before, is the mark of an auteur who has barely scratched the surface of his prowess. — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026 But that description barely scratches the surface, Chris Joyner reports. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 14 Oct. 2026 Of course, focusing on racing only scratches the surface of Waltrip’s life. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 24 Sep. 2026 This is just scratching the surface—for more sweater-dress styling tips and outfit ideas using all the fall and winter fashion trends, keep reading below. — India Roby, Glamour, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scratch the surface

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Cite this Entry

“Scratch the surface.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scratch%20the%20surface. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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