scratch the surface

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at Dutch bank ING, agreed, suggesting the US move would "only scratch the surface" of the supply disruption in the Persian Gulf.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

“But then you scratch the surface a bit more and you look at things like electricity prices.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026

The 13 films below only scratch the surface of Corman’s huge filmography, but they do provide a glimpse into his ambition and his sensibility as both a director and a micro studio boss.

From New York Times • May 12, 2024

"And with these mice, not only can we scratch the surface, but we can dig underneath."

From Science Daily • May 6, 2024

Mateo says, which doesn’t really scratch the surface on who they are to me, but I let it slide because this is so wild even Mateo is tearing up for me.

From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera