scratch the surface

phrase

: to make a modest effort or start

Examples of scratch the surface in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The big data revolution was slow and, in many respects, incomplete; beyond large enterprises, countless organizations still barely scratch the surface of what data can do. — Nino Letteriello, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

When possible, use wooden or plastic utensils to minimize the risk of scratching the surface during cooking, adds Castagnoli. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 July 2026

The award cited South Beach’s ADA accessibility, picnic areas, concessions, and views—highlights that only scratch the surface. — Savannah Born, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2026

But this type of reactive investigation only scratches the surface of the problem, meaning most cases slip through the cracks. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 20 July 2026

Rhymes for scratch the surface

• hypersurface
• undersurface
• resurface
• subsurface