I. scrape 1 /skreɪp/ BrE AmE verb
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old Norse ; Origin: skrapa ]
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.
II. scrape 2 BrE AmE noun
1 . [countable] a mark or slight injury caused by rubbing against a rough surface SYN graze :
I came away from the accident with only cuts and scrapes.
2 . [countable] informal a situation in which you are in trouble or have difficulties:
He got into all sorts of scrapes as a boy.
3 . [singular] the noise made when one surface rubs roughly against another
scrape of
He heard the scrape of chairs being dragged across the floor.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ injury damage to part of your body caused by an accident or an attack:
The passengers were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
▪ wound an injury, especially a deep cut in your skin made by a knife, bullet, or bomb:
He died of a gunshot wound to the head.
▪ cut a small injury made when a sharp object cuts your skin:
Blood was running from a cut on his chin.
▪ bruise a dark mark on your skin that you get when you fall or get hit:
Jack often comes home from playing rugby covered in bruises.
▪ graze/scrape a small injury that marks your skin or breaks the surface slightly:
She fell off her bike and got a few grazes on her legs and knees.
▪ gash a long deep cut:
He had a deep gash across his forehead.
▪ bump an area of skin that is swollen because you have hit it against something:
How did you get that bump on your head?
▪ sprain an injury to your ↑ ankle , ↑ wrist , knee etc, caused by suddenly twisting it:
It’s a slight sprain – you should rest your ankle for a week.
▪ strain an injury to a muscle caused by stretching it or using it too much:
a muscle strain in his neck
▪ fracture a crack or broken part in a bone:
a hip fracture