scrape
B1Neutral to informal. 'Scrape through' and 'scrape together' are common in speech.
Definition
Meaning
To move a hard or sharp object across a surface, often with friction and noise, to remove material or level it.
To narrowly achieve or manage something with difficulty; to gather or collect something, especially money or information, with effort; to get into a difficult or embarrassing situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb implies effort, difficulty, or an abrasive action. As a noun, it can mean the action/sound, a difficult situation, or a minor injury from abrasion.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'scrape' similarly for physical action and metaphorical difficulties. The phrase 'bow and scrape' (behave obsequiously) is more common in UK historical/literary contexts.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. Can imply financial hardship ('scraping by'), mediocrity ('scrape a pass'), or a minor accident ('car scrape').
Frequency
Comparatively frequent in both. Slightly more common in UK English for describing minor car accidents ('I scraped the car on the gatepost').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
scrape something (off/from/away)scrape against/along somethingscrape through (something)scrape something together/upVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “scrape the barrel”
- “bow and scrape”
- “scrape a living”
- “scrape through”
- “scrape together”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'We had to scrape together the funding.' Technical (Web): 'The software scrapes data from websites.'
Academic
Rare in formal writing except in technical contexts (data scraping, scrape cells in biology). Used in narratives ('scraped a pass').
Everyday
Very common: 'Scrape the ice off the windscreen.', 'He just scraped through the exam.', 'I got into a bit of a scrape.'
Technical
Data science: web scraping. Engineering/Metallurgy: removing surface material. Medicine: a skin scrape for a sample.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- It's just a surface scrape on the paintwork.
- He's always getting into silly scrapes.
- The scrape of chalk on the board is awful.
American English
- The car door has a nasty scrape from the parking lot.
- Web scraping is a common data collection method.
- We heard the scrape of a key in the lock.
verb
British English
- She had to scrape the frost from her windscreen.
- He only just scraped a pass in maths.
- Mind you don't scrape the car on that low wall.
American English
- I need to scrape the old paint off the deck.
- They managed to scrape together enough money for the trip.
- The chair scraped loudly against the floor.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Scrape the mud off your shoes before you come in.
- I fell over and got a scrape on my knee.
- We can just scrape by on my salary if we're careful.
- He scraped the burnt toast before putting butter on it.
- The government has scraped together a majority to pass the bill.
- The boat scraped against the rocks, causing minor damage.
- The novel's antagonist is a corrupt official who bow and scrapes before his superiors.
- Advanced algorithms are used to scrape and analyse vast amounts of social media data.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the harsh, grating sound of a SPOON being SCRAPED across an empty PLATE. SCR-APE -> SCRAPE.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULTY IS FRICTION / ACHIEVING WITH DIFFICULTY IS SCRAPING (e.g., scrape together, scrape through).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'скрести' for gathering money/info; use 'наскрести' or 'собирать с трудом'.
- The noun 'a scrape' (situation) is not 'царапина' but 'передряга', 'переделка'.
- "Scrape the data" is not 'почистить данные' but 'собрать/выгрузить данные (автоматически)'.
- Confusing 'scrape' (abrade) with 'scratch' (make a thin cut).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect preposition: *'scrape out the mud of the boots' (correct: 'scrape the mud off/from the boots').
- Using 'scrape' for a deep cut (use 'gash').
- Misspelling as 'scrap' (which is trash or a fight).
Practice
Quiz
In the context of data science, what does 'to scrape' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but it often implies difficulty, mediocrity, or damage. Neutral in technical contexts (data scraping) and positive when 'scraping through' means succeeding against odds.
A scratch typically involves a thin, linear cut or mark (e.g., from a nail or key). A scrape involves a broader area of surface abrasion, often removing a layer (e.g., skin, paint).
Yes, it commonly describes a harsh, grating sound made by friction, e.g., 'the scrape of a chair', 'the scrape of a shovel'.
It's an idiom meaning to use the worst or last available options because nothing better is left, e.g., 'Hiring him shows they're really scraping the barrel.'