scrape

bow and scrape

Fig. to be very humble and subservient. Please don't bow and scrape. We are all equal here. The salesclerk came in, bowing and scraping, and asked if he could help us.

See also: and, bow

have a scrape (with someone or something)

Fig. to come into contact with someone or something; to have a small battle with someone or something. I had a scrape with the county sheriff. John and Bill had a scrape, but they are friends again now.

See also: have

scrape someone or something together and scrape someone or something up

Fig. to find and collect something; to locate and assemble a group of people or things. (Based on scrape something up.) Fm sure we can scrape up someone for the job. Mary scraped a few dollars together for some new books. John barely scraped up enough money to pay his rent.

See also: together

scrape something away (from something)

to scratch or rasp something off something. Ted scraped the rough places away from the fender he was repairing. Ted scraped away the rough places.

See also: away

scrape something off (of) someone or something and scrape something off

to rub or stroke something off someone or something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) I sat down and scraped the caked mud off of me. It was everywhere! Jake scraped off the rust.

scrape something out

to empty something by scraping. Scrape the pan out. Don't leave any of that good sauce inside. Please scrape out the pan.

See also: out

scrape something out of something and scrape something Out

to remove something by scraping. Scrape all the peanut butter out of the jar before you discard it. Scrape out the peanut butter.

See also: out

scrape something together

to gather things together by scraping. The waiter scraped all the crumbs together and removed them from the table with a little gadget. Karen scraped together all the trimmings and set them aside.

See also: together

scrape along (on something) and scrape along (with something)

to manage just to get along with a minimum amount of something. We can just scrape along on the money I earn from my sewing. Do you think you can scrape along with just $400 per month?

See also: along

scrape the bottom of the barrel

to select from among the worst; to choose from what is left over. You've bought a bad-looking car. You really scraped the bottom of the barrel to get that one. The worker you sent over was the worst I've ever seen. Send me another—and don't scrape the bottom of the barrel.

See also: barrel, bottom

scrape through (something)

1. Lit. to move through something, scraping or rubbing the sides. The car, going at a very high speed, scraped through the tunnel. It just managed to scrape through.

2. Fig. to get by something just barely; to pass a test just barely. Alice passed the test, but she just scraped through it. I just scraped through my calculus test.

See also: through

scrimp and save and pinch and scrape

to be very thrifty; to live on very little money, often in order to save up for something. We had to scrimp and save in order to send the children to college. The Smiths pinched and scraped all year in order to go on a Caribbean cruise.

See also: and, save, scrimp

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bow and scrape

to try too hard to please someone in a position of authority (often in continuous tenses) It's embarrassing to see staff bowing and scraping to the new Prime Minister.

See also: and, bow

scrape the barrel  (informal)

to use something or someone that you do not want to use because nothing or no one else is available (usually in continuous tenses) You know you're really scraping the barrel when you have to ask your old mother to come to the cinema with you.

See also: barrel

scrimp and save

to spend very little money, especially because you are saving it to buy something expensive (often + to do sth) We had to scrimp and save to buy our first house.

See also: and, save, scrimp

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scrape by

1. to have only enough money to buy the basic things you need to live Even with both of us working, we earn just enough to scrape by.

2. to come very close to failing She only scraped by in the last election and no one expects her to win this time.

scrape together something also scrape something together

to gather something that is not easily available, esp. money He managed to scrape together $20 for the train and came back home. Many immigrants have difficulty scraping enough money together for the application.

Usage notes: also in the form scrape up something: Somehow these families managed to scrape up the tuition fee.

Related vocabulary: scare up something

See also: together