scratch the surface

phrase

: to make a modest effort or start

Examples of scratch the surface in a Sentence

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In 2013, Beyoncé took the stage at Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans with a career-spanning performance that, in hindsight, doesn’t even scratch the surface of how her artistry would unfold over the decade that followed. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2026 Something has shifted, and the old language of fact and fiction only scratches the surface. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 25 Oct. 2026 Three great games, and this just scratches the surface of the football for this weekend. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 And this is just scratching the surface of the impact of gun violence in the United States. — Lisa Milbrand, Parents, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scratch the surface

Rhymes for scratch the surface

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Browse Nearby Words

scratch the/an itch
scratch the surface
scratch the/that itch
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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 29 Oct. 2026.

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