scrape

v., scraped, scrap·ing, scrapes.

v.tr.

1. To remove (an outer layer, for example) from a surface by forceful strokes of an edged or rough instrument: scraped the wallpaper off before painting the wall.
2. To abrade or smooth by rubbing with a sharp or rough instrument.
3. To rub (a surface) with considerable pressure, as with an edged instrument or a hard object.
4. To draw (a hard or abrasive object) forcefully over a surface: scraped my fingernails down the blackboard.
5. To injure the surface of by rubbing against something rough or sharp: scraped my knee on the sidewalk.
6. To amass or produce with difficulty: scrape together some cash.

v.intr.

1. To come into sliding, abrasive contact.
2. To rub or move with a harsh grating noise.
3. To give forth a harsh grating noise.
4. To economize or save money by paying attention to very small amounts; scrimp.
5. To succeed or manage with difficulty: scraped through by a narrow margin.

n.

1. 1. The act of scraping.
   2. The sound of scraping.
2. An abrasion on the skin.
3. 1. An embarrassing predicament.
   2. A fight; a scuffle.

[Middle English scrapen, from Old Norse skrapa.]

verb

1. To remove (an outer layer or adherent matter) by rubbing a surface with considerable pressure: scour¹, scrub. See put on/take off.
2. To bring or come into abrasive contact, often with a harsh grating sound: grate, rasp, scratch. See sounds/pleasant sounds/unpleasant sounds/neutral sounds or silence.
3. To be severely sparing in order to economize: pinch, scrimp, skimp, stint. Idioms: pinch pennies, tighten (one's) belt. See save/waste.

noun

A difficult, often embarrassing situation or condition: box¹, corner, deep water, difficulty, dilemma, Dutch, fix, hole, hot spot, hot water, jam, plight¹, predicament, quagmire, soup, trouble. Informal bind, pickle, spot. See easy/hard.

n

Definition: bad or embarrassing situation
Antonyms: resolution, solution

v

Definition: be very frugal
Antonyms: spend, squander, waste

v

Definition: scratch, remove layer
Antonyms: smooth

---

1. a scraping of the superficial elements of the skin for laboratory examination for parasitic and fungal elements.
2. removal of superficial layers of skin after scalding of pig carcasses.

IN BRIEF: To rub to make smooth; a sore caused by skin contact with pavement or another rough surface; a minor fight or argument.

Life is a razor, you are always in hot water or a scrape. — John Updike, American writer.

Dansk (Danish)
v. tr. - skrabe, gnide på
v. intr. - skrabe, skrabe med, kradse, skure, skratte, spinke og spare
n. - skraben, skrabende lyd, skraber, hudafskrabning, klemme, knibe, fordybning, strøg, (sl) barbering

idioms:

• scrape a living    knap tjene til føden
• scrape the bottom of the barrel    skrabe bunden

Nederlands (Dutch)
(af)schrapen, schaven, krassen, bijeenschrapen, schaafwond, ruzie

Français (French)
v. tr. - gratter, érafler, écorcher, racler, s'en sortir difficilement
v. intr. - érafler, érafler qch, battre contre qch, économiser le moindre sou
n. - écorchure, ennui, raclement, un petit peu de

idioms:

• scrape a living    gagner sa vie péniblement
• scrape the bottom of the barrel    (gén) être réduit à faire avec ce que l'on a sous la main

Deutsch (German)
v. - schaben, abkratzen, scharren, abstreifen, schürfen, streifen, kratzen
n. - Kratzen, Schaben, Kratzer, (ugs.) Schwulitäten

idioms:

• scrape a living    sich schlecht und recht ernähren
• scrape the bottom of the barrel    das Letzte zusammenkratzen

Ελληνική (Greek)
v. - (ξε)γδέρνω, ξύνω, σκαλίζω, τρίβω (μια επιφάνεια πάνω σε άλλη), λειαίνω, αδειάζω εντελώς (το πιάτο από φαγητό)
n. - ξύσιμο, σύρσιμο, γδάρσιμο, (καθομ.) κακοτοπιά, μπελάς, προστριβή

idioms:

• scrape a living    τα βγάζω πέρα με δυσκολία
• scrape the bottom of the barrel    ξύνω τον πάτο του βαρελιού, (μτφ.) χρησιμοποιώ ό, τι το χειρότερο

Italiano (Italian)
raschiare, scorticare, stridere, graffio, impiccio

Português (Portuguese)
v. - raspar
n. - raspagem (f), arranhão (m), enrascada (f)

Русский (Russian)
скоблить, чистить, царапать, обдирать, слегка касаться, подходить вплотную, еле-еле сводить концы с концами, пробираться, скрипеть, пиликать, накапливать, копать, шаркать (ногой), чистка, царапина, скрип, затруднение, неприятность, ссора, расшаркивание, бритье

Español (Spanish)
v. tr. - raspar, rascar, limpiar, desollar, arañar, chirriar, rechinar
v. intr. - hacer una reverencia echando un pie atrás, mostrarse servil
n. - raspado, chirrido, arañazo, rasguño, lío, aprieto, apuro, situación desagradable

idioms:

• scrape a living    ir tirando, vivir muy justo
• scrape the bottom of the barrel    valerse del último recurso

Svenska (Swedish)
v. - skrapa, krafsa, hyvla, gnida på, fila på, snåla, spara
n. - skrapning, skrapande, krafsande, tunt smörlager

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
刮, 擦, 刮落, 削掉, 擦去, 括干净, 擦伤, 刮掉, 刮出刺耳声, 擦掉, 擦痕

idioms:

• scrape a living    谋生, 勉强糊口
• scrape the bottom of the barrel    使用最后一招

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
v. tr. - 刮, 擦, 刮落, 削掉, 擦去, 括乾淨, 擦傷
v. intr. - 刮掉, 刮出刺耳聲, 擦掉
n. - 刮, 擦痕, 擦

idioms:

• scrape a living    謀生, 勉強糊口
• scrape the bottom of the barrel    使用最後一招

한국어 (Korean)
v. tr. - 문지르다, 면도하다, 애써서 모으다
v. intr. - 스치다, (절을 할 때) 오른 발을 뒤로 빼다, 귀에 거슬리는 소리를 내다
n. - 문지르기, 찰과상, (특히 자초한) 곤란

日本語 (Japanese)
v. - こすり磨く, こすり落とす, すりむく, すれすれを通る, こする, こすって音を立てる, かき集める, 掘る, 刻み付ける, 掻く, 削る
n. - こすること, こする音, こすれた部分, すり傷, 難儀, 擦り傷

idioms:

• scrape the bottom of the barrel    奥の手を使う

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(فعل) يحك, يكشط (الاسم) حك, كشط‏

עברית (Hebrew)
v. tr. - ‮גירד, שפשף, הסיר, ניקה, קרצף, שרט‬
v. intr. - ‮עבר או הסתדר בקושי, היה חסכני, משך רגל לאחור בהשתחוות מגושמת‬
n. - ‮גירוד, שפשוף, שריטה, צרה, תסבוכת, מצב ביש, שכבת חמאה על הלחם‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.