Meaning & use
tight skin
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Meanings
phraseuncountable
skin that feels stretched, firm, or pulled, often because it is dry, swollen, or losing elasticity.
Grammar: Used as a noun phrase; it can follow 'have', 'feel', or 'cause'.
Patterns
- have tight skin
- feel tight skin
- cause tight skin
After too much sun, her face had tight skin that felt uncomfortable.
The doctor asked if the tight skin on his hands was painful.
Moisturizer can help when tight skin is caused by dry winter air.
phraseuncountable
skin that fits closely over the body, especially on an animal or a young person.
Grammar: Often used after 'with' to describe appearance.
Patterns
- with tight skin
- smooth tight skin
The snake's tight skin shone as it moved through the grass.
She had smooth, tight skin that made her look younger.
Common combinations
- tight skin on the face
- Tight skin on the face can be a sign of dehydration.
- feel tight
- My skin feels tight after swimming in cold water.
- cause tight skin
- Some medications can cause tight skin as a side effect.
- tight, shiny skin
- The swelling left her with tight, shiny skin on her legs.
Synonyms and how they differ
- firm skin
- Firm skin means it is not loose, but it does not necessarily feel stretched or uncomfortable.
- taut skin
- Taut skin is pulled very tight, often used in medical or literary descriptions.
Opposites
Commonly confused: tight skin or thick skin?
tight skin vs thick skin
Thick skin means you are not easily upset by criticism, not that your skin feels tight.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'tight skin' correctly.
Choose one answer.
The second sentence describes skin that feels stretched and restricts movement, which is the usual meaning. The first confuses it with 'thick skin' (not easily upset), and the others treat it as a garment or material.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tight skin”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.