scrag
C2slang, informal, archaic
Definition
Meaning
(noun) a thin, scrawny person or animal; a scrawny neck.
(verb, slang) To kill by strangling or garroting; to do away with; to handle roughly. Also refers to inferior, tough meat, especially from the neck.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Most common historical usage as a noun for a thin, scrawny person (now somewhat dated). The verb meaning "to strangle" is chiefly British slang from the early-mid 20th century. In culinary contexts, 'scrag end' (of lamb/mutton) is a specific term.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English retains culinary use ('scrag end of lamb') and historical slang ('scrag him!' meaning kill/strangle). In American English, the word is virtually obsolete outside of historical texts; the culinary term is rarely used.
Connotations
UK: Informal, often derogatory for a thin person; violent/criminal slang as a verb. US: Archaic, largely unknown.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, slightly higher in UK in historical/criminal slang contexts or specific food terms.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
scrag [someone] (verb, transitive)a scrag of a [noun]the scrag end of [meat]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “scrag-end (UK: the inferior end of a neck of mutton)”
- “to get scragged (slang: to be killed)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or linguistic studies of slang.
Everyday
Rare; possible in UK among older speakers or in butchery ('scrag end').
Technical
Butchery (archaic term for neck meat).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The gang threatened to scrag the informant.
- He was scragged from behind in a dark alley.
American English
- (Archaic) The old tale spoke of a villain who would scrag his victims.
adverb
British English
- (Not used).
American English
- (Not used).
adjective
British English
- (Not standard; 'scraggy' is used).
American English
- (Not used).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The butcher sold the scrag end of lamb for stew.
- He was nothing but a scrag of a boy, all skin and bones.
- In the gritty novel, the gangsters decided to scrag the witness to silence him.
- The term 'scrag end' refers to the neck portion of the animal, often used for broth.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SCRAGgly, SCRAGgy-necked old SCRAG of a chicken - it's so scrawny you could SCRAG (strangle) it with one hand.
Conceptual Metaphor
THINNESS IS DEFICIENCY (a scrag is a deficient, inferior specimen); VIOLENCE IS HANDLING (to scrag someone is to handle them with ultimate, fatal roughness).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как 'скрежет' (skreget) – это 'grinding' или 'gnashing'.
- Не переводить как 'козёл' (kozyol) – это 'goat' или 'jerk'.
- Для 'scrag end' кулинарный термин 'шейка' (баранины/ягнёнка).
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a general synonym for 'kill' (specific to strangulation).
- Confusing 'scrag' (noun/verb) with 'scrag' as a misspelling of 'scrap'.
- Assuming it is modern, widely understood slang.
Practice
Quiz
In British criminal slang, 'to scrag someone' means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is rare and considered slang or archaic. It persists mainly in fixed phrases like 'scrag end' in UK butchery and in historical crime fiction.
It is virtually obsolete in American English. The verb meaning 'to strangle' is primarily a British slang usage.
A culinary term, chiefly British, for the neck end of lamb or mutton, typically bony and used for stews or broth.
Yes, it is a derogatory term for a very thin, scrawny person and would be considered insulting.