Question

scrape

Accepted Answer

1 / skreɪp / verb

1 [ transitive ] to remove something from a surface using the edge of a knife, a stick etc :

Scrape the carrots and slice them thinly.

scrape something away/off

The earth was scraped away to uncover a trapdoor.

scrape something off/into etc something

Teresa scraped the mud off her boots.

The two of them scraped their dishes clean .

2 [ intransitive, transitive always + adverb/preposition ] to rub against a rough surface in a way that causes slight damage or injury, or to make something do this → graze :

The coat was too long; the hem scraped the pavement.

scrape against/on etc

I heard the side of the car scrape against the wall.

scrape something against/on something

I scraped my knee painfully on the concrete.

3 [ intransitive and transitive ] to make a noise by rubbing roughly against a surface :

Chairs scraped loudly as they stood up.

scrape (something) on/down/against something

He opened the gate quietly, trying not to let it scrape on the gravel.

4 scrape home especially British English to win a race, election, or competition by a very small amount :

The Tories may scrape home, but it’s unlikely.

5 scrape (the bottom of) the barrel informal to have to use something even though it is not very good, because there is nothing better available :

It was clear that the party was scraping the barrel for competent politicians.

→ bow and scrape at bow 1 ( 5 ) , → scrape/scratch a living at living 2 ( 1 )

scrape something ↔ back phrasal verb

if you scrape your hair back, you pull it away from your face and tie it at the back :

Her blonde hair was scraped back into a ponytail.

scrape by phrasal verb

1 to have just enough money to live :

We can scrape by, thanks to what we grow ourselves.

2 to only just succeed in passing an examination or dealing with a difficult situation

scrape in ( also scrape into something ) phrasal verb

to only just succeed in getting a job, a place at university, a position in government etc :

Labour scraped in by a small majority.

He just scraped into college.

scrape through (something) phrasal verb

to only just succeed in passing an examination or dealing with a difficult situation :

I managed to scrape through the exam.

scrape something ↔ together/up phrasal verb

to get enough money for a particular purpose, when this is difficult :

She scraped together the last of her savings.

They could hardly scrape up enough money for the train fare.

Scrape Scraped Verb Phrasal Transitive Surface Something I