miss the point; ineffective; scratch the surface
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to scratch an itch through a boot; fig. to miss the point; to take ineffective action that fails to address the root of a problem; to offer superficial criticism
literaryOften used to criticize comments, writing, or measures that fail to address the core issue or that only tackle symptoms rather than root causes. The literal image is of trying to scratch a foot through a boot—unable to reach the actual itch.
Nǐ你
zhè这
yàng样
zuò做
zhǐ只
shì是
gé隔
xuē靴
sāo搔
yǎng痒
，
gēn根
běn本
jiě解
jué决
bù不
liǎo了
wèn问
tí题
。
Doing this is merely scratching the surface; it won't solve the fundamental problem at all.
Zhè这
piān篇
píng评
lùn论
xiě写
de得
gé隔
xuē靴
sāo搔
yǎng痒
，
méi没
yǒu有
chù触
jí及
wèn问
tí题
de的
shí实
zhì质
。
This commentary misses the mark, failing to touch on the essence of the problem.
Show 2 more examplesShow fewer examples
Rú如
guǒ果
gǎi改
gé革
zhǐ只
shì是
gé隔
xuē靴
sāo搔
yǎng痒
，
nà那
me么
xiào效
guǒ果
bì必
rán然
yǒu有
xiàn限
。
If the reforms merely scratch the surface, the results will inevitably be limited.
Tā他
de的
jiàn建
yì议
zǒng总
shì是
gé隔
xuē靴
sāo搔
yǎng痒
，
ràng让
rén人
tīng听
bù不
chū出
zhòng重
diǎn点
。
His suggestions always miss the point, leaving people unable to discern the main focus.