scratch
B1Neutral (common in both informal and formal contexts, with some idioms being more colloquial).
Definition
Meaning
To make a shallow mark or cut on a surface by dragging something sharp or rough across it.
To cancel, remove, or withdraw something; to start from the very beginning with no prior advantage; to manage with great difficulty; to irritate or itch.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word spans concrete physical action (scratching a surface), metaphorical beginnings ('from scratch'), and idiomatic expressions related to difficulty or cancellation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Scratch card' (UK) is equivalent to 'scratch-off ticket' (US). In sports like golf, 'scratch golfer' is common in both, but 'scratch match/team' (improvised) might be slightly more common in UK contexts.
Connotations
Largely identical. Can imply improvisation, basic quality, or a difficult starting point.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
scratch [OBJECT] (e.g., scratch the table)scratch [OBJECT] [ADVERBIAL/PREP] (e.g., scratch his name off the list)scratch [OBJECT] [ADJECTIVE] (e.g., scratch it clean)[IDIOMATIC] (e.g., start from scratch)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Start from scratch”
- “Scratch the surface”
- “You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours”
- “Scratch your head (over something)”
- “Up to scratch”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'We had to scrap the prototype and start from scratch.'
Academic
'The initial research only scratches the surface of this complex phenomenon.'
Everyday
'Be careful not to scratch the new coffee table with that vase.'
Technical
'The substrate was scratched with a diamond stylus to test its hardness.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The cat will scratch the new sofa if we don't get a scratching post.
- They decided to scratch the planned event due to poor weather.
American English
- I had to scratch my car from the rally after the engine failed.
- Don't scratch that mosquito bite or it'll get infected.
adverb
British English
- We built the garden shed completely from scratch.
American English
- She learned the programming language from scratch in six months.
adjective
British English
- It was just a scratch team, thrown together at the last minute.
- He's a scratch golfer, so he gives no strokes.
American English
- I made a scratch cake using my grandmother's recipe.
- The builder made a quick sketch on a scratch piece of plywood.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cat scratched me.
- There's a scratch on my phone screen.
- Don't scratch the paint!
- We had to start the project from scratch.
- He scratched his head, trying to remember the answer.
- I only scratched the surface of the book before class.
- The scandal forced the politician to scratch his name from the ballot.
- They barely scratch a living from the poor soil.
- The film's plot is so complex it leaves you scratching your head.
- The committee decided to scratch the controversial clause from the draft treaty.
- Her performance wasn't quite up to scratch, so she didn't make the final cut.
- The new theory scratches at the fundamental assumptions of the field.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a cat using its claws on a post – the sound and action are both 'scratch'.
Conceptual Metaphor
BEGINNINGS ARE BLANK SURFACES (to start from scratch), UNDERSTANDING IS UNCOVERING (to scratch the surface).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'scratch' as 'скрежет' (which is a grating/grinding sound). 'Scratch' is primarily 'царапать(ся)' or 'чесать(ся)'.
- The idiom 'start from scratch' does not relate to the Russian 'с нуля' in a mathematical sense, but the meaning is equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'scratch' instead of 'itch' (e.g., 'My mosquito bite scratches' is incorrect; it should be 'itches').
- Confusing 'scratch' with 'scrape' (a scrape is usually broader and removes more surface material).
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'scratch the surface' typically express?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. As a verb, it primarily means to mark or rub a surface. As a noun, it refers to the mark or wound itself (a scratch on the arm), or the starting point ('from scratch').
It originates from sports (like cricket or boxing) where a starting line was scratched on the ground. It means to begin from nothing, with no prior work or advantage.
Yes, especially in contexts like events, races, or plans (e.g., 'The horse was scratched from the race'). It comes from the idea of scratching a name off a list.
'Itch' is the uncomfortable sensation on your skin. 'Scratch' is the action you take to relieve an itch. You scratch an itch.