flesh wound

American  

[woond] / wund /

noun

1. a wound that does not penetrate beyond the flesh; a slight or superficial wound.

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flesh wound British  

/ wuːnd /

noun

1. a wound affecting superficial tissues

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Etymology

Origin of flesh wound

First recorded in 1665–75

Example Sentences

“The declines may be shrouded with ominous headlines, but the percentage drop in the index is just a mere flesh wound.”

From Barron's

Herbert joked after the game that the injury was “just a flesh wound” but admitted that the pain level was pretty low and that he felt fine.

From Seattle Times

"It's a rare visit to my local shops where I do not end up incurring some kind of flesh wound to my hands, arms, knees or shins."

From BBC

Its causal relationship to the flesh wounds that can result from its use is not understood.

From New York Times

What Townshend didn't know was that the first bullet grazed Garfield's upper right arm, leaving a minor flesh wound.

From Literature