scratch
scratch — verb
1. to produce a narrow mark on a surface or on your body by running a pointed or ja
to produce a narrow mark on a surface or on your body by running a pointed or jagged item over it
Ravindra scratched the top of his new desk when he moved it across the room.
transitive: scratch + surface damaged
A sharp branch scratched Salma's arm as she ran through the forest.
accidental damage with natural object
The cat's claws scratched the leather sofa, leaving thin white lines.
Be careful not to scratch the paint when you take the picture off the wall.
Yuna's new glasses got scratched after she dropped them on the stone path.
passive: get scratched
- scratch the surface
- scratch the paint
- scratch your arm
- scratch easily
- deeply scratched
- lightly scratched
Grammar Patterns
scratch + noun (surface/skin)
scratch + noun + on/against + noun
noun + scratches + adverb (easily)
Usage Note
Often used to describe accidental damage to surfaces such as paintwork, wood, glass, or skin. The object is typically the thing that receives the mark, not the thing that causes it.
Common Mistakes
2. to add a design, writing, or similar result onto a surface, or to remove unwante
to add a design, writing, or similar result onto a surface, or to remove unwanted material from it, by using a sharp or rough tool
Someone scratched their initials into the old wooden bench at the park.
adding: scratch + noun + into + surface
Erik scratched a rough map of the campsite onto the ground with a stick.
Niran tried to scratch the dried glue off the glass jar with a knife.
removing: scratch + noun + off + surface
The children scratched patterns in the wet cement before it hardened.
- scratch initials into
- scratch a design on
- scratch something off
- scratch a line
- scratch a mark
- carve
deeper and more deliberate cutting into wood or stone
- etch
using acid or a sharp tool to create a permanent design
- scrape off
specifically removing material, not adding it
- scribble
writing quickly and carelessly, without scratching
Grammar Patterns
scratch + noun (mark/design) + on/onto + surface
scratch + noun (unwanted material) + off + surface
Usage Note
This sense covers two opposite actions — adding marks (like carving initials) and removing marks (like scraping off dried paint). Context tells you which direction the action goes.
Common Mistakes
3. to use the claws to rub against a surface, as a cat, dog, or other animal does
to use the claws to rub against a surface, as a cat, dog, or other animal does
The dog scratched at the back door every morning until someone let her in.
intransitive: scratch + at + surface
A squirrel scratched noisily at the wooden fence behind the garden shed.
The rabbit scratched the bottom of its cage with its strong back feet.
transitive: rabbit + scratched + cage
Mira watched her kitten scratch at the sofa cushion for several minutes.
- scratch at the door
- scratch the floor
- scratch a hole
- scratch with claws
Grammar Patterns
animal + scratches
animal + scratches + at/on + surface
animal + scratches + noun
Usage Note
Subject is almost always an animal. The scratching may be for digging, sharpening claws, making a nest, getting attention, or relieving an itch. Distinguish from sense 4 (RUB ITCH), where the subject is a person using fingernails on their own skin.
4. to use your fingernails to rub a part of your skin, especially when it feels unc
to use your fingernails to rub a part of your skin, especially when it feels uncomfortable or itches
Noa scratched his mosquito bites even though his mother told him not to.
scratch + body area (mosquito bites)
Camila kept scratching her arm because the wool sweater made her skin itch.
The doctor warned that scratching the rash would only make it spread.
Stephanie scratched her head and wondered where she had put her keys.
scratch + head (may indicate thinking too)
- scratch an itch
- scratch your nose
- scratch your head
- scratch a bite
- stop scratching
Grammar Patterns
scratch + body part (arm/nose/head)
scratch + an itch
intransitive: stop scratching
Usage Note
Subject is usually a person. When used with 'scratch your head', it can also mean thinking hard about something, which is a separate idiomatic use (see idioms). The literal sense of scratching for an itch is the most basic meaning.
Common Mistakes
5. to decide that a person, animal, or team will not take part in a competition aft
to decide that a person, animal, or team will not take part in a competition after they were originally expected to
The champion runner had to scratch from the race after injuring her knee.
intransitive: person + scratches from + event
Aaron scratched his horse from the competition when it became sick.
transitive: owner + scratches + animal
The tennis player was scratched from the tournament because of a family emergency.
passive: be scratched from
Two teams scratched before the match, so the schedule had to be changed.
- scratch from the race
- scratch a horse
- scratch an entry
- be scratched from competition
Grammar Patterns
scratch + noun (runner/horse/team) + from + competition
noun + scratches
be scratched from + competition
Usage Note
Common in sports journalism and racing contexts. The passive form ('be scratched from') is frequently used when officials remove a competitor for medical or disciplinary reasons.
Common Mistakes
6. to decide that a planned event or activity will not happen, especially when it h
to decide that a planned event or activity will not happen, especially when it has already been arranged
Naoko and her flatmates had planned a picnic, but the heavy rain forced them to scratch it.
informal: scratch + it (referring to plan)
Kofi scratched his weekend hiking trip after checking the weather forecast.
The concert was scratched at the last minute because the singer lost her voice.
passive: was scratched
Salma decided to scratch the dinner party and just order takeout instead.
- scratch the plan
- scratch the trip
- scratch the meeting
- have to scratch
- decide to scratch
- keep
to go ahead with the plan
- go ahead with
to proceed as planned
Grammar Patterns
scratch + noun (plan/event/trip)
scratch + noun + from + schedule
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 5 (WITHDRAW FROM RACE), which is specific to sports competitions. This sense applies to any kind of plan or event — parties, trips, appointments. More informal than 'cancel' and most common in everyday conversation.
7. used to say that you want to take back a statement you have just made, usually i
used to say that you want to take back a statement you have just made, usually in order to replace it with a better or more accurate one
Eitan's the laziest person I know — no, scratch that, he's just very relaxed.
pattern: no, scratch that — [correction]
I thought I saw a bear, but scratch that — it was just a large dog.
We need three hundred chairs — actually, scratch that, make it four hundred.
The meeting is on Tuesday — sorry, scratch that, the email says Wednesday.
with apology: sorry, scratch that
- scratch that
- no scratch that
- actually scratch that
- sorry scratch that
- forget that
similar meaning but less common in this specific retraction context
- never mind
more general way to withdraw a statement or request
Grammar Patterns
scratch that (as an interjection)
no, scratch that — [replacement]
Usage Note
Always used with the object 'that' — 'scratch that' is a fixed, idiomatic expression. It is not a regular transitive verb in this sense (you cannot say 'I scratch my earlier comment'). Typically appears in informal speech or writing, often in conversations, emails, or notes.
Common Mistakes
scratch about
phrasal verbTo search for something by moving things around or looking in different places.
Sara scratched about in her bag for the keys.
The dog scratched about in the garden looking for a bone.
scratch around
phrasal verbTo search in various places for something, often with difficulty.
Diego scratched around the desk for a pen that worked.
We scratched around for enough money to pay the rent.
scratch out
phrasal verbTo remove or cancel something written by drawing a line through it.
The teacher scratched out the wrong answer with a red pen.
He scratched out his name from the list of volunteers.
scratch your head
idiomto think hard about something because you find it confusing, surprising, or difficult to understand
The teacher scratched her head over Ella's unusual answer to the maths problem.
Scientists are scratching their heads over why the birds changed their migration route.
scratch the surface
idiomto deal with or understand only a small part of a subject or problem, leaving most of it still to be explored
The two-hour lecture only scratched the surface of the history of Chinese medicine.
Our investigation has barely scratched the surface of what went wrong at the factory.
used to describe a situation where two people help each other in return for mutual benefit
The two politicians had an unspoken understanding — you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
In this industry, deals are often made on a you-scratch-my-back basis between business owners.
from scratch
idiomstarting from the very beginning with no advantage or with basic ingredients, rather than using something already prepared
Noa built the wooden bookshelf from scratch, using only raw planks and nails.
Salma prefers to bake cakes from scratch instead of using a boxed mix.
up to scratch
idiomreaching the required standard or level of quality that is expected
The hotel room was clean, but the service was not up to scratch for a five-star hotel.
Kofi practised for weeks to bring his piano playing up to scratch before the recital.
To think very hard about something that is difficult to understand or explain.
Mia scratched her head over the confusing math problem.
Why did the computer crash? Brian scratched his head for hours.
To only begin to deal with or understand a small part of a larger issue or topic.
The report only scratched the surface of the pollution problem.
In our short visit, we just scratched the surface of Tokyo's culture.
Used to describe a situation where two people help each other, often in a way that may be unfair to others.
The two politicians had a you-scratch-my-back agreement on funding.
In business, it's often a case of you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
scratch — noun
1. a thin line or mark left on a surface or on your skin when something sharp or ro
a thin line or mark left on a surface or on your skin when something sharp or rough rubs across it
There was a deep scratch on the surface of the new wooden table.
article + adjective + scratch + on
The car door had a long scratch where someone had scraped against a wall.
Ravindra noticed a small scratch on his phone screen a week after buying it.
The old vinyl record had so many scratches that the music sounded terrible.
countable plural: many scratches
- deep scratch
- small scratch
- scratch on the surface
- leave a scratch
- cover up a scratch
Grammar Patterns
a scratch + on + surface
a deep/long/small scratch
Usage Note
Often used with prepositions like 'on' (on a table, on glass) or 'in' (in the wood, in the paint). The adjective usually describes depth ('deep', 'shallow', 'superficial') or size ('small', 'long', 'tiny').
Common Mistakes
2. the action of rubbing a part of your body or a surface with your fingernails or
the action of rubbing a part of your body or a surface with your fingernails or an animal's claws
The dog gave herself a good scratch behind the ear with her back paw.
pattern: give + [animal] + a scratch
Yuna's constant scratching had made her mosquito bites even worse.
One scratch from the cat's claws and you will need a bandage.
Nellie gave her scalp a quick scratch and then continued reading her book.
pattern: give + body part + a scratch
- give a scratch
- have a scratch
- a good scratch
- need a scratch
Grammar Patterns
give + noun + a scratch
have a scratch
a scratch with claws/nails
Usage Note
Distinguish from noun sense 1 (MARK ON SURFACE), which refers to the visible result. This sense refers to the action itself. The pattern 'give something a scratch' is very common and informal.
3. a competitor who was expected to take part in a race or contest but withdraws be
a competitor who was expected to take part in a race or contest but withdraws before it begins
There were eight horses in the race, but two scratches reduced the field to six.
sports context: countable plural
After the scratch of the top seed, the tournament became much more open.
The list of scratches was posted on the notice board outside the race office.
The defending champion was a late scratch, so a replacement fighter stepped in.
pattern: a late scratch
- a late scratch
- list of scratches
- scratch from the race
- withdrawal
the general noun for the act of pulling out, not the person
- no-show
someone who fails to appear, regardless of when they decide
- entrant
someone who has officially signed up for a competition
- contestant
someone who actually takes part
Grammar Patterns
a scratch
list of scratches
number of scratches
Usage Note
Most common in horse racing and athletics. A 'scratch' is a competitor who was entered but is removed before the start. The related verb sense (WITHDRAW FROM RACE) is more common in everyday use.
scratch — adjective
1. formed or organized quickly with people who happen to be available at the time,
formed or organized quickly with people who happen to be available at the time, usually for a sports game or event
The school fielded a scratch team of volunteers for the charity football match.
attributive: scratch + team
A scratch band of local musicians played at the opening of the new library.
Since several players were sick, the coach formed a scratch squad for the game.
The party had a scratch orchestra made up of anyone who could play an instrument.
- scratch team
- scratch squad
- scratch crew
- scratch band
- scratch orchestra
Grammar Patterns
scratch + team/crew/band/orchestra/squad
Usage Note
This is an attributive-only adjective — it cannot be used after a linking verb ('the team is scratch' is incorrect). Almost always used in British English sports contexts, though it occasionally appears in other fields such as music or theatre.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- scratchernounB1
- scratchyadjectiveB2
- scratchingnounB1
- unscratchedadjectiveB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All five words describe damaging a surface by rubbing or pulling something across it, but they differ in depth, tool, and typical context. 'Scratch' is the most general term for a thin, shallow mark made by something sharp or rough — a cat's claw, a key, a branch. 'Scrape' implies a wider area of damage, often with a rough, blunt object like sandpaper or a boot on pavement. 'Graze' is specifically for light skin injuries — a knee grazed when you fall on gravel — and is never used for hard surfaces. 'Scuff' describes shallow, surface-level marks, especially on leather shoes, floors, or paint, caused by rubbing rather than cutting. 'Gouge' is the most severe: a deep, groove-like cut made by a pointed tool or a hard impact, such as a nail gouging a hole in drywall. A cat scratches a sofa; a moving box scrapes the hall wall; a cyclist who falls grazes their elbow; muddy boots scuff the kitchen floor; a dropped chisel gouges the workbench.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'scratch' first appeared in English around the 1400s as a verb meaning to make a mark or tear with claws or something sharp. It probably came from a blend of older English words: the Middle English 'scratten' (to scratch or claw) and words from related languages like Middle Dutch 'scratten' and German 'kratzen' (to scratch). Before 'scratch' became common, English speakers used 'scratch' much less often and preferred words like 'claw' or 'rend'. Over time, the meaning expanded from the physical action of cutting with claws to include removing paint, rubbing an itch, withdrawing from races, cancelling plans, and the modern casual use of 'scratch that' to correct oneself in speech.