flesh
flesh — noun
1. the soft layer of muscle and fat located between the outer skin and the skeleton
the soft layer of muscle and fat located between the outer skin and the skeleton of humans and animals; also, the edible portion of vegetables and fruit that sits beneath the peel or outer rind.
The chef carved through the soft flesh of the ripe mango with ease.
of + fruit name
The fishhook sank deep into the flesh of Eri's palm.
Beneath the tough outer peel, the avocado's flesh was soft and creamy.
Sharks can smell blood and tear through flesh within seconds.
Asher bit into the peach, and the sweet juicy flesh burst in his mouth.
用法筆記
Uncountable in almost all contexts. When referring to the flesh of a specific animal as food, 'meat' is more common outside of technical or descriptive writing.
常見錯誤
2. the visible surface of a human body when no clothes are covering it and it can b
the visible surface of a human body when no clothes are covering it and it can be felt or seen.
The sun burned Hamza's bare flesh while he slept on the beach.
bare flesh
Lauren felt the cool silk fabric brush against the flesh of her shoulders.
The tight collar chafed the flesh on Rodrigo's neck until it turned red.
Shirin wrapped a scarf around the exposed flesh of her neck against the cold wind.
- skin
the neutral, everyday term; 'flesh' in this sense carries a more physical or sensuous tone
- clothing
what covers the flesh on the body
用法筆記
Commonly paired with modifiers like 'bare,' 'exposed,' or 'naked' to emphasise that the skin is visible. Often appears in descriptions of physical sensation, injury, or temperature.
常見錯誤
3. the human body thought of as a physical, material thing with needs, desires, and
the human body thought of as a physical, material thing with needs, desires, and weaknesses, especially when contrasted with the mind, spirit, or soul.
During Lent, Pastor Tunde preached about the struggle between the spirit and the flesh.
contrast with spirit
Cyrus believed the needs of the flesh were less important than those of the soul.
Élise struggled with the desires of the flesh, wanting both comfort and discipline.
Brooke's instructor told her to honor the wisdom of the flesh as well as the mind.
- body
neutral term without the spiritual or moral overtones of 'flesh'
- mortal coil
poetic or archaic; 'flesh' is the more common modern choice
用法筆記
Most common in religious, philosophical, or literary writing. Frequently appears in set phrases such as 'the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,' 'sins of the flesh,' and 'pleasures of the flesh.'
常見錯誤
flesh — verb
1. to add more information, specifics, or depth to something such as a plan, idea,
to add more information, specifics, or depth to something such as a plan, idea, piece of writing, or argument, making it fuller and more convincing.
The outline was good, but the author needed to flesh out each chapter before submitting it.
flesh out + noun (chapter)
Pim presented a rough sketch and promised to flesh it out with more details the following week.
separable: flesh + pronoun + out
The architect fleshed out the basic design by drawing each room in full detail.
Before the meeting, Christopher fleshed out his slides with recent sales figures.
- elaborate on
more formal; emphasises explaining at greater length
- expand
broader; can refer to size, scope, or detail
- develop
common alternative; suggests gradual improvement
文法句型
flesh out + noun
flesh + noun + out
flesh out + wh-clause
用法筆記
The object can come between 'flesh' and 'out' (flesh it out, flesh the plan out). Most commonly used with an object referring to an abstract thing: a proposal, a story, a character, a theory.
常見錯誤
2. to scrape away the remaining flesh and fat from the inside of an animal skin as
to scrape away the remaining flesh and fat from the inside of an animal skin as one stage in preparing leather.
The tanner used a curved blade to flesh the cowhide before soaking it in lime.
technical sense
After the hide was fleshed, the leather worker stretched it tightly over a wooden frame.
passive: was fleshed
The apprentice learned to flesh a sheepskin without cutting holes in the hide itself.
The old tanner showed Rodrigo how to flesh the goat hide on the wooden beam.
- scrape
a more general word; 'flesh' is the specific technical term for this leather-making process
文法句型
flesh + noun (hide/skin)
用法筆記
A technical term used almost exclusively in leather-working and tanning. Unlikely to be encountered in everyday conversation outside of craft contexts.
3. to grow more flesh on the body, typically as a result of improved nutrition or h
to grow more flesh on the body, typically as a result of improved nutrition or health; to become plumper or thicker in physical form.
The rescue dog began to flesh out after three months of regular meals.
qualifier: began to flesh out
After the drought broke, the cattle fleshed out and their coats grew glossy again.
The skinny kitten fleshed up noticeably within weeks of being adopted.
The sick parrot fleshed out after Shirin gave it the right food and care.
- thin out
to lose flesh; become leaner
- waste away
to lose flesh from illness or lack of food
文法句型
flesh out; flesh up
用法筆記
Typically used with 'out' or (less commonly) 'up.' Distinguish from verb sense 1: this sense requires no object and describes natural physical growth, not adding detail to something abstract.
常見錯誤
4. to develop larger, more defined muscles through exercise and training, giving th
to develop larger, more defined muscles through exercise and training, giving the body a heavier and more solid appearance.
Christopher had fleshed out considerably since he started weight training in January.
fitness context
The rugby player fleshed out his shoulders and chest during the off-season.
flesh out + body part
After months of lifting, Tunde's arms had fleshed out until his sleeves were tight.
Andrew's arms had fleshed out noticeably after he joined the gym and started lifting weights.
- bulk up
the more common idiomatic expression for building muscle mass
- build muscle
straightforward, neutral phrasing
- slim down
to reduce body size through diet or exercise
- lose muscle
to decrease muscle mass
文法句型
flesh out + noun (body part)
用法筆記
Distinguish from verb sense 3 (BECOME FLESHY): this sense implies intentional muscle growth through exercise rather than natural gain from nutrition. Less common than synonyms 'bulk up' or 'build muscle.'