The phrase "cut into one's own flesh" is an idiom that means to make a sacrifice that causes direct, personal harm or financial loss for the sake of a larger goal or due to extreme circumstances.
Depending on the context, the phrase can be understood in a few different ways:
1. Idiomatic & Financial Meaning (Most Common)
In business, politics, and daily conversation, it means taking a painful loss or reduction that directly impacts oneself.
Example: "To keep the company from going bankrupt, the CEO had to cut into his own flesh and slash his personal salary by 50%."
2. Figurative & Emotional Meaning
It can describe an action or situation that causes deep emotional distress or self-inflicted hardship.
Example: "Firing her closest friend felt like cutting into her own flesh."
3. Literal Meaning (Medical & Psychological)
In a literal sense, the phrase refers to the physical act of damaging one's own skin or deep tissue.
Self-Harm: It is often associated with psychiatric distress or coping mechanisms, where individuals physically cut themselves to manage overwhelming emotions
Medical / Survival: It can describe extreme, rare survival situations (like emergency self-surgery) or rare medical conditions like autophagia
If you or someone you know is struggling with distress or physical self-harm, please know that support is available. You can reach out to a trusted professional or contact a local mental health helpline for free, confidential guidance.
살점은 문맥에 따라 영어로 다르게 표현됩니다. 상황에 맞는 단어를 선택해 보세요.🥩 고기나 생선의 살점을 뜻할 때
Flesh: 동물의 부드러운 살 부분을 뜻하는 가장 일반적인 단어입니다. (예: He cut into the flesh.)
Piece of meat: 요리나 음식으로서의 고기 조각을 말할 때 씁니다.🩹 상처나 사고로 떨어져 나간 피부/살점을 뜻할 때
Piece of skin: 피부 조각을 뜻하는 일상적인 표현입니다.
Shred of flesh: 찢겨 나간 살점을 거칠게 표현할 때 씁니다.
💡 관용적 표현: "살점을 떼어내다"경제적 손실이나 큰 희생을 감수한다는 비유적 표현은 "cut into one's own flesh" 또는 "pound of flesh" (무자비한 대가)라는 표현을 사용합니다.