to the quick

to the quick

1. To the level of living tissue.
   • 1904, Jack London, chapter 39, in The Sea-Wolf (Macmillan’s Standard Library), New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC:

     Blood dripped from every finger-end, while the nails were broken to the quick.

2. Very deeply; at one's most sensitive level of feeling.
   • c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv]:

     Titus, I have touched thee to the quick.

   • 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter 14, in Tom Jones, a Foundling:

     This false evidence . . . stung me to the quick, and raised an indignation scarce conceivable.

   • 1837, Charlotte Brontë, chapter 37, in Jane Eyre:

     The powerlessness of the strong man touched my heart to the quick.

• cut to the quick