English Idiom – No skin off my nose.
It doesn’t bother me, because it doesn’t affect me. It makes no difference to me.
We use this idiom to show that we don’t mind what someone does, because the result won’t affect us. It can sound a little cold or dismissive, so be careful with your tone. In American English you may also hear no skin off my back.
According to BookBrowse, the expression may come from boxing: a light punch to the nose that barely grazes the skin won’t bother a boxer much.
Don’t confuse it with by the skin of your teeth, which means you only just managed to do something.
Usage:
- Someone wants to do something their own way and it doesn’t affect you.
- Someone is taking a risk, but the outcome won’t affect you.
- Someone ignores your advice.
Example:
- “You can ignore my advice and do it your way if you want. It’s no skin off my nose.”
Learn More
Look it upNo skin off one’s noseWiktionaryWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means something does not bother you because it does not affect you.
It is informal and can sound a little dismissive, so use it carefully.
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