Thick skin
Meaning
To be emotionally resilient and not easily offended by criticism or insults.
Origin
The phrase "thick skin" draws a vivid, literal parallel from the animal kingdom, where creatures like rhinos or elephants possess physically dense hides for protection against injury, harsh environments, and predators. This observable biological fact, evident throughout history, eventually gave rise to a powerful metaphor for human temperament. By the 19th century, this tangible quality of physical protection was widely applied to emotional resilience. Just as a thick hide deflects physical harm, a person with "thick skin" is someone who can endure emotional blows—criticism, insults, or rejection—without being deeply affected, allowing harsh words to simply bounce off their mental and emotional defenses. The idiom thus became a common and enduring way to describe someone impervious to emotional pain, as if protected by an invisible, resilient layer.
Examples
- You'll need to develop thick skin if you want to succeed in a competitive industry like sales.
- Despite all the negative comments, she maintained her composure, proving she truly had thick skin.