1
general::
Phrase(s): scratch the surface
1. Lit. to scratch something just on the surface, not extending the mark below the finish into the wood, stone, marble, below. • There is no serious damage done to the bench. You only scratched the surface. 2. Fig. to just begin to find out about something; to examine only the superficial aspects of something. • The investigation of the governor’s staff revealed some suspicious dealing. It is thought that the investigators have just scratched the surface. • We don’t know how bad the problem is. We’ve only scratched the surface.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
Investigate or treat something superficially, as in This feed-the-hungry program only scratches the surface of the problem, or Her survey course barely scratches the surface of economic history. This metaphoric term transfers shallow markings made in a stone or other material to a shallow treatment of a subject or issue. [Early 1900s]
American Heritage Idioms