Scorch the surface

SEAR

Think of how a chef quickly browns meat in a hot pan to lock in flavor. This word also describes a mark left by intense heat.

Scorch the surface" hints at lightly burning or charring the outer layer of something, which is exactly what "sear" means in cooking. The word also fits because it sounds like "sear" could relate to "searing" heat, reinforcing the idea of a quick, intense burn. It’s a straightforward definition with no hidden wordplay—just a direct match for the action described.