How to Use scratch the surface in a Sentence

scratch the surface

phrase
  • Allowing dirt and debris to sit on your floors can damage or scratch the surface during everyday use or when mopping.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026
  • Flores says this helps prevent dirt and debris from being rubbed into and scratching the surface during the cleaning process.
    — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 27 June 2026
  • It can be used for scratching the surface of materials such as metal or stone, plus it can be used to break automotive glass in emergencies.
    — Ben Coxworth july 14, New Atlas, 14 July 2026
  • But The Five-Star Weekend seems content to merely scratch the surface of her emotions, not break through to process them.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
  • But this type of reactive investigation only scratches the surface of the problem, meaning most cases slip through the cracks.
    — Charlie Campbell, Time, 20 July 2026
  • The weight behind this work is generational, perhaps outside of time, and that intangible mystique is barely scratching the surface of what this brand offers its clientele.
    — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • When possible, use wooden or plastic utensils to minimize the risk of scratching the surface during cooking, adds Castagnoli.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 July 2026
  • Hieronimus believes L’Oréal is only scratching the surface of its adjacencies in body care, where consumers are looking for more performant products.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
  • The big data revolution was slow and, in many respects, incomplete; beyond large enterprises, countless organizations still barely scratch the surface of what data can do.
    — Nino Letteriello, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Yet even discovery, excavation and publication barely scratch the surface of a fossil’s scientific importance.
    — Kristi Curry Rogers, The Conversation, 14 July 2026
  • The award cited South Beach’s ADA accessibility, picnic areas, concessions, and views—highlights that only scratch the surface.
    — Savannah Born, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scratch the surface.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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