skinny
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.very thin, often in a way that looks unhealthy or unattractive.
adj.excessively thin or emaciated in appearance; often carries a slightly negative or critical connotation compared to 'slim'.
Simple“He was so skinny that his clothes looked much too big for him.”
In context“The stray dog looked dangerously skinny, with its ribs clearly visible through its matted fur.”
Teacher's tipRemind students that 'skinny' can be an insult. 'Slim' or 'slender' are better words if they want to give a compliment.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.fitting very closely to the body.
adj.designed to fit the body very tightly, particularly used in the context of denim or trousers.
Simple“She bought a new pair of skinny jeans for the party.”
In context“The current fashion trend has shifted away from skinny silhouettes toward more relaxed, wide-leg cuts.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun.
- 03 B1 Intermediate
adj.made with low-fat milk or having fewer calories.
adj.referring to food or drink, especially coffee, prepared with skimmed milk or reduced fat content.
Simple“I'll have a skinny latte with no sugar, please.”
In context“The café offers a variety of skinny options for health-conscious customers who want to enjoy a dessert without the extra calories.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
n.the real facts or secret information about something.
n.the underlying facts, details, or 'inside' information regarding a specific situation, often obtained through gossip.
Simple“Give me the skinny on the new boss — is she nice?”
In context“Before the merger was officially announced, the employees were already trying to get the skinny on potential job cuts.”
UsageAlmost always used with the definite article as 'the skinny'.
Teacher's tipThis is a very common idiom in American English but is rarely used in formal writing.
“Joey didn’t like the photo – he said, “You made my legs look thin.” Like it was my fault he had skinny legs.”
“Cops described the suspect as a brown male, about 5-foot-4, and of skinny build.”
From Middle English skinny (“resembling skin”), equivalent to skin + -y. The meaning associated with lack of fat or muscle possibly derives from the phrase skin and bones; the meaning associated with nudity refers to the exposed skin.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.