What is cut-to-the-quick?

Answer 1

The expression Cut to the quick has two different meanings.

The most common of these uses "the quick" in the sense of a very sensitive part of the body, and refers to UNDER THE FINGERNAIL. The expression "cut to the quick" when used in this way means to hurt, deeply distress or emotionally wound. Variations of this expression such as "touched to the quick" or "stung to the quick" can be dated but to the early 1500's, although the current "cut to the quick" was considered a cliché from around the 1850's onwards. The second meaning, although not so commonly used, is used as another way to say get to the point. This version of "cut to the quick" is also known as "cut to the quip".