scramble
/ˈskræmbl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈskræmbl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈskram-bəl/ (ame, mw) · /ˈskræm.bəl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈskræm.bəl/ (ame, ipa)
scramble — verb
- scramblepresent simple I / you / we / they
- scrambleshe / she / it
- scrambledpast simple
- scrambling-ing form
1. to move yourself across rough or steep ground in a hurry, often grabbing the gro
to move yourself across rough or steep ground in a hurry, often grabbing the ground with your hands as well as your feet because the surface is slippery, loose, or hard to climb.
Yael scrambled up the rocky slope behind the temple to get a better view of the valley.
scramble up + slope/hill (climbing path)
The hikers scrambled over fallen logs and wet stones to reach the waterfall before sunset.
scramble over + obstacle (rough terrain)
Pim scrambled down the muddy riverbank, using both hands to keep from sliding into the water.
Two small goats scrambled across the ruined wall behind the farmhouse.
When the alarm sounded, Paloma scrambled out of bed and ran into the hallway.
文法句型
scramble + up/down/over/across/through + place
用法筆記
Almost always combined with a directional preposition (up, down, over, across, through, out of). The image is of a body fighting the ground, not a smooth controlled walk.
常見錯誤
2. when several people all want the same limited thing at the same time, to push, r
when several people all want the same limited thing at the same time, to push, run, or work hard against the others so that you are the one who ends up with it.
Investors scrambled for the few remaining shares in the new electric-bike company.
scramble for + scarce resource
After the announcement, parents scrambled to enrol their children in the only bilingual class.
scramble to + infinitive (urgent competing action)
Reporters scrambled to interview the witness before the police took her away.
When the truck driver threw out the spoiled fruit, hungry birds scrambled for whatever fell to the ground.
Five start-ups are now scrambling for the same small slice of the office-furniture market.
文法句型
scramble for + thing
scramble to + verb
用法筆記
Subject is usually plural — a group competing against each other. Distinguish from sense 1 (CLIMB QUICKLY): here the meaning is about competition, not physical climbing, even though both ideas of urgent effort are present.
常見錯誤
3. to put together the people, money, or supplies you need for something at the las
to put together the people, money, or supplies you need for something at the last minute, in a rough and untidy way, because there is not enough time to do it properly.
Quinn scrambled a small team together in two days to cover the flooding in the south.
scramble + group + together (last-minute assembly)
The charity scrambled enough donations to keep the soup kitchen open through the winter.
scramble + funds/donations (last-minute resourcing)
Yuki scrambled a simple birthday cake from whatever was left in the fridge.
The factory manager scrambled three replacement parts together before the morning shift started.
Femi scrambled an apology speech the night before the council meeting.
- throw together
very informal phrasal verb with the same improvised feel
- cobble together
stresses uneven quality of the result more than the speed
文法句型
scramble (together) + noun
scramble + noun + together
用法筆記
Object is typically something the speaker wishes they had had more time to prepare — a plan, a team, a meal, a sum of money. Often co-occurs with 'together' to stress the improvised quality.
4. to take a set of letters, words, sentences, or pieces and put them into a random
to take a set of letters, words, sentences, or pieces and put them into a random order so that the original meaning or picture is lost.
The puzzle game scrambles the letters of a country's name and asks the player to put them back in order.
scramble + letters of [name] (word puzzle frame)
Élise's three-year-old had scrambled the photographs in the family album.
scramble + ordered set (lose intended sequence)
The fever scrambled Mert's thoughts so badly that he kept calling his sister by the wrong name.
The lines of the poem were scrambled, and students had to rearrange them on the board.
A child had scrambled the wooden tiles on the kitchen floor, so the word no longer made sense.
文法句型
scramble + letters/words/sentences
用法筆記
Frequently passive in instruction texts ('the words have been scrambled'). The result is meaningful pieces in a meaningless order, not destruction of the pieces themselves.
常見錯誤
5. to cook eggs (or a similar food such as tofu) by breaking them into a hot pan an
to cook eggs (or a similar food such as tofu) by breaking them into a hot pan and stirring them as they cook, so that the white and the yellow mix into one soft yellow mixture.
Tanvi scrambled four eggs with a little butter for the family's Sunday breakfast.
scramble + eggs + with + ingredient
Christopher scrambled some tofu with onions and turmeric for his vegan housemate.
scramble + tofu (alternative ingredient)
If you scramble the eggs over a low heat, they stay soft and creamy.
Théo scrambled the last two eggs and slid them onto a slice of toast.
The school cook scrambled enough eggs to feed sixty children before the morning bell.
文法句型
scramble + eggs/tofu
用法筆記
The past participle 'scrambled' often acts as a noun-modifier — 'scrambled eggs', 'scrambled tofu'. The verb itself is everyday cooking vocabulary.
6. to electronically rearrange a phone, radio, or television signal so that anyone
to electronically rearrange a phone, radio, or television signal so that anyone who hears it without the right decoding equipment will get only noise instead of the real message.
Embassies routinely scramble their phone lines so that foreign agents cannot listen in.
scramble + phone lines (security register)
The radio broadcast was scrambled in regions where the government had banned the station.
passive: be scrambled in + region
Jason's research lab uses a small device to scramble its video calls during patent discussions.
Pay-TV companies scramble premium channels so that only paying customers can decode them.
- decode
to recover the original signal
- unscramble
the direct opposite verb
文法句型
scramble + signal/transmission/message
用法筆記
Subject is usually an organization or a piece of equipment, not a private person. Often appears in security, military, or broadcasting contexts.
7. to send military planes into the air, or to take off in a military plane, in a g
to send military planes into the air, or to take off in a military plane, in a great hurry because of an immediate threat or alert.
Two fighter jets scrambled from the coastal base when the unknown aircraft entered the area.
intransitive: jets + scramble + from + base
The air force scrambled four planes within minutes of the radar warning.
transitive: scramble + planes (military command)
Mira watched the pilots scramble across the runway and climb into their cockpits.
Helicopters were scrambled to rescue the climbers stranded on the north face of the mountain.
文法句型
scramble + jets/fighters
jets scramble
用法筆記
Almost always about military or rescue aircraft. The point is the emergency speed, not the simple act of taking off.
8. in American football, for the quarterback to run with the ball after defenders b
in American football, for the quarterback to run with the ball after defenders break past the players who were supposed to protect him, instead of throwing a pass as planned.
Brandon scrambled out of the pocket and ran fifteen yards for a first down.
scramble + out of the pocket (signature pattern)
The young quarterback scrambled to the left and threw the ball just before being tackled.
scramble + to + side + then pass
Whenever the offensive line broke down, Nora's brother scrambled toward the sideline to save the play.
The coach told reporters that his quarterback would scramble less and stay in the pocket more this season.
文法句型
quarterback + scramble + adverb of direction
用法筆記
Specialised American-football usage. Subject is almost always 'the quarterback' or his name. Distinguish from sense 1: this is one quarterback breaking out of a planned play, not climbing rough ground.
scramble — noun
- scramblesingular
- scramblesplural
1. a journey on foot over rough or steep ground that is hard enough to need your ha
a journey on foot over rough or steep ground that is hard enough to need your hands as well as your feet, somewhere between an easy walk and a real rock climb.
The last stretch to the summit is a short scramble over loose stones.
a scramble + over + surface
Abigail described the path behind the lighthouse as a steep scramble rather than a hike.
scramble vs. hike (contrast for difficulty)
After lunch the group faced a half-hour scramble up a wet, mossy slope.
Kasia's grandfather still enjoys an easy scramble in the hills behind his village every weekend.
- clamber
rarer as a noun; same hands-and-feet image
文法句型
a scramble + up/over/across + place
用法筆記
Counts as a noun for an activity, not a place. British walking culture uses this word frequently to describe a route grade between a hike and a climb.
2. a rushed and rather messy series of actions in which a person or group tries to
a rushed and rather messy series of actions in which a person or group tries to do everything they need to do in much less time than they would like.
Mornings at the Benjamin household are a daily scramble to find shoes, lunches, and homework.
a scramble to + multi-action infinitive
There was a last-minute scramble to print the conference programme before the doors opened.
last-minute scramble + to + infinitive
The flood warning set off a scramble to move livestock to higher ground.
After the singer cancelled, there was a frantic scramble to find a replacement for the gala.
文法句型
a scramble to + verb
用法筆記
Typically modified by an adjective that emphasises the rushed feeling — 'mad', 'frantic', 'last-minute', 'daily'.
3. a situation in which a lot of people are all trying at once to get some limited
a situation in which a lot of people are all trying at once to get some limited thing, by pushing, competing, or moving as fast as they can.
The new housing project triggered a scramble for cheap apartments near the train station.
a scramble for + scarce resource
Rodrigo's photo captured the scramble for seats on the last train out of the city.
the scramble for + seats (concrete crowd scene)
The court ruling set off a scramble for new lawyers across three different states.
Falling oil prices led to a sudden scramble for safer investments among small banks.
文法句型
a scramble for + thing
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'for' + the thing being competed for. Distinguish from sense 2 (RUSH): there the rush is about getting tasks done; here the rush is about beating others to a limited supply.
4. a motorcycle race held on rough country ground full of hills, mud, and sharp tur
a motorcycle race held on rough country ground full of hills, mud, and sharp turns, where riders compete on lightweight off-road bikes.
Anya entered her first scramble at the age of sixteen, riding her older cousin's bike.
enter + a scramble (race event)
The Sunday scramble at the old quarry drew riders from three neighbouring counties.
the + day + scramble + at + venue
Heavy rain turned the weekend scramble into a slow battle through deep mud.
Local clubs still hold a small scramble every spring, mostly for young teenage riders.
- motocross
the standard international term; preferred in most modern writing
文法句型
a scramble
scramble + event
用法筆記
Mainly British English. Largely replaced by the international term 'motocross' in most modern sports writing.
5. a hot dish made by stirring eggs (or tofu) in a pan with other ingredients such
a hot dish made by stirring eggs (or tofu) in a pan with other ingredients such as vegetables, cheese, or herbs, served as one soft yellow mixture rather than as a flat omelette.
The café serves a goat-cheese scramble with thick brown toast for weekend brunch.
ingredient + scramble + with + side
Yuki ordered a vegetable scramble with mushrooms and spinach.
vegetable scramble + with + ingredients
Femi's tofu scramble has become a small favourite at the neighbourhood food market.
Sunday lunch at Paloma's mother's house always starts with a chorizo scramble.
文法句型
a + ingredient + scramble
用法筆記
Most common in restaurant menus and cookbooks; in everyday speech people are more likely to say 'scrambled eggs' (sense 5 of the verb).