scratching
scratching — noun
1. the action of using your fingernails to rub an itchy area of your skin in order
the action of using your fingernails to rub an itchy area of your skin in order to stop the uncomfortable feeling.
Putri's constant scratching left red marks on her arms during allergy season.
collocation: constant scratching
Nikos could not stop scratching the mosquito bite on his ankle.
negative pattern: could not stop + -ing
The doctor warned the boy that scratching the rash would spread the irritation.
Asher woke up in the middle of the night scratching his sunburned arms.
用法筆記
This sense is usually described using the continuous form or as a verbal noun. The object is typically a body part (arm, leg, back) or a skin condition (bite, rash, itch).
常見錯誤
2. the unpleasant sound you hear when something with sharp or hard points, like an
the unpleasant sound you hear when something with sharp or hard points, like an animal's claws, rubs against a surface.
Rania heard the scratching of mice behind the kitchen wall at midnight.
noun pattern: the scratching of [something]
The scratching of tree branches against the window kept Zuri awake all night.
A quiet scratching at the back door told Yara that a cat was waiting outside.
Nora flinched at the loud scratching of the dog's claws on the wooden floor.
- scraping
implies a heavier, less rhythmic sound
- screeching
much louder and higher-pitched
- rustling
softer, made by leaves or paper, not claws
3. a thin mark or area of damage that appears on a surface after a sharp or rough o
a thin mark or area of damage that appears on a surface after a sharp or rough object has been dragged across it.
Lan noticed a deep scratching on her phone screen after dropping her keys on it.
collocation: deep scratching
Rodrigo tried to polish out the scratching on the old wooden table with wax.
verb pattern: polish out + scratching
The moving company paid to repair the scratching on Shanti's new bookshelf.
Aaron pointed out the scratching around the keyhole of the second-hand car door.
用法筆記
Often uncountable when referring to the general pattern of damage ('there was scratching all over the table'), but countable when referring to individual marks ('there were several scratchings on the surface').
常見錯誤
4. letters, words, or symbols that have been cut into a hard surface such as stone,
letters, words, or symbols that have been cut into a hard surface such as stone, metal, or wood, usually by a sharp tool.
Putri traced her finger over the ancient scratching carved into the stone monument.
collocation: ancient scratching
The scratching on the bronze bell was too worn by weather for anyone to read.
Lan's grandfather showed her the scratching cut into his old wooden desk.
The archaeologist photographed every scratching on the cave wall before the light faded.
- carving
implies deeper, more artistic work; less about writing specifically
- inscription
more formal; used for official or ceremonial carved text
- etching
uses acid or a pointed tool on metal or glass
5. pieces of writing, such as notes or a shopping list, that were put down very qui
pieces of writing, such as notes or a shopping list, that were put down very quickly without attention to neatness or order.
Shanti wrote some scratching on a napkin during the lunch meeting.
verb pattern: wrote + scratching
Rodrigo found old scratching on a scrap of paper tucked inside the library book.
The detective tried to read the scratching on the torn envelope.
Zuri's bag was full of scratching on sticky notes and the backs of receipts.
scratching — verb
- scratchingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- scratchings3rd person singular
- scratchinging-ing form
- scratchingedpast simple
1. to move your fingernails back and forth across an itchy part of your skin to mak
to move your fingernails back and forth across an itchy part of your skin to make the uncomfortable feeling go away.
Aaron scratched his arm where the wool sweater made his skin itch.
transitive: scratched + body part
Rania tried not to scratch her legs during the long bus ride to work.
verb pattern: try not to + scratch
The orange cat sat on the sofa scratching its ear with a back paw.
Asher kept scratching the back of his neck while he reviewed for the exam.
Putri's little brother was scratching his mosquito bites even in his sleep.
文法句型
scratch + body part
scratch at + body part/spot
用法筆記
The object is typically a body part ('she scratched her arm') or the reflexive pronoun ('he scratched himself'). When used intransitively with 'at', the action is continuous or repetitive: 'the dog scratched at the door.'
常見錯誤
2. to make a thin mark or wound on a surface by pulling something pointed or rough
to make a thin mark or wound on a surface by pulling something pointed or rough across it, often by accident.
Nikos scratched the paint on his bicycle when he leaned it against the brick wall.
transitive: scratched + paint
The neighbour's kitten scratched the leather sofa with its sharp little claws.
Rodrigo scratched the surface of the non-stick frying pan by stirring with a metal spoon.
Shanti accidentally scratched her favourite sunglasses when she dropped them on the pavement.
Someone scratched the side of Zuri's new car while parking in the crowded lot.
- polish
to make a surface smooth and shiny
文法句型
scratch + surface
scratch at + surface
scratch against + surface
用法筆記
When describing the result on the damaging object itself, use the passive form or 'get scratched': 'the table got scratched during the move.' The active form describes the person or thing doing the damage.
常見錯誤
3. to put words or pictures onto a surface in a fast, messy way so that they are di
to put words or pictures onto a surface in a fast, messy way so that they are difficult to read clearly.
Yara scratched directions on a receipt before she forgot the address.
transitive: scratched + note
The student scratched some calculations in the margin of his notebook during the exam.
Aaron scratched his signature on the delivery form without reading the fine print.
Nora scratched a rough map of the neighbourhood on a napkin for her visiting friend.
文法句型
scratch + writing/note
scratch on + surface
用法筆記
This sense is informal and primarily British in the 'scribble' meaning. In American English, 'scratch' is less common for this meaning; 'scribble' or 'jot down' is preferred.
4. to delete a piece of writing, such as a name on a list, by putting a line across
to delete a piece of writing, such as a name on a list, by putting a line across it in order to show it is no longer wanted or valid.
Nikos scratched his name from the list of volunteers after his schedule changed.
phrasal: scratched + name + from
The manager scratched the defective item from the inventory with a red pen.
Rodrigo scratched two names off the guest list after they cancelled their flights.
Shanti scratched the dentist appointment from her calendar when she came down with a fever.
- add
to include a name or item on a list
文法句型
scratch + noun + out/off
scratch + noun + from + list/document
用法筆記
Commonly used with the particles 'out' or 'off' as phrasal verbs: 'scratch out a name' means to delete it by drawing through it; 'scratch off' means to remove something from a written list.
常見錯誤
5. to decide not to take part in a race, competition, or other organized event afte
to decide not to take part in a race, competition, or other organized event after having already agreed or signed up to do so.
Asher scratched from the marathon after twisting his ankle during final training.
pattern: scratched from + event
The relay team scratched from the tournament when three runners fell ill.
Yara scratched from the debate competition because her schoolwork was piling up.
Aaron scratched from the chess match after arriving at the hall thirty minutes late.
文法句型
scratch from + competition/race
用法筆記
This sense is mainly used in sports and competitive contexts. The subject is usually a person or team, and 'from' introduces the event being left. In horse racing, a horse is 'scratched' from a race by its owner or trainer.
常見錯誤
6. to manage with difficulty to get enough of something you need, especially money,
to manage with difficulty to get enough of something you need, especially money, by using anything you can find or earn.
Putri scratched together enough cash to pay her share of the month's rent on time.
phrasal: scratched together + money
Nikos scratched a living by doing odd jobs around the neighbourhood for elderly people.
collocation: scratch a living
The Watanabe family scratched together the money for their daughter's study trip to Kyoto.
Rania scratched enough ingredients from her nearly empty pantry to make a simple vegetable soup.
- scrape together
very similar meaning; equally common in this usage
- scrounge
informal; implies getting things by asking others
- patch together
to assemble something imperfectly from available parts
- squander
to waste money or resources carelessly
文法句型
scratch + together/up + money/resources
用法筆記
Almost always used with the particle 'together' or 'up'. The object is typically money ('scratch together some cash'), a living ('scratch a living'), or basic resources. It implies difficulty and limited means.
常見錯誤
7. to produce a rough, unpleasant noise when two hard surfaces rub or move against
to produce a rough, unpleasant noise when two hard surfaces rub or move against each other.
The old wooden chair scratched against the floor tiles every time Rodrigo pushed it back.
pattern: scratched against + surface
Something scratched on the window screen at night, and Shanti was too scared to check.
Zuri heard the dog's claws scratching at the front door to be let back inside.
Yara's bicycle chain scratched against the metal guard every time she pedalled uphill.
文法句型
scratch against + surface
scratch on + surface
用法筆記
This sense describes the sound produced, with the source of the sound as the subject. It is intransitive; the surface that produces the sound is introduced by 'against', 'on', or 'at'.