scruff
scruff — noun
- scruffsingular
- scruffsplural
1. the loose skin and fur on the rear part of an animal's neck, which a person can
the loose skin and fur on the rear part of an animal's neck, which a person can take hold of to lift or move the animal.
Tariro lifted the kitten gently by the scruff of its neck.
by the scruff of [possessive] neck for grabbing
The mother cat carried each tiny kitten by the scruff.
The farmer grabbed the puppy by the scruff and set it back in the pen.
A guard dog can be calmed by a firm hand on the scruff of its neck.
Maeve held the wriggling rabbit by the scruff so the vet could check it.
文法句型
by the scruff of the/one's neck
用法筆記
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'by the scruff of the neck' (or 'of its/his/her neck'). Used of animals far more often than people; with people it suggests grabbing them roughly to control or remove them.
常見錯誤
2. someone who looks messy and unwashed, with dirty or careless clothes and a gener
someone who looks messy and unwashed, with dirty or careless clothes and a generally neglected appearance.
Niran turned up to the interview looking like a total scruff.
look like a scruff for a messy appearance
Esteban called his brother a scruff for never ironing his shirts.
The teacher told the scruff in the back row to tuck in his shirt.
Yumi felt like a scruff next to her smartly dressed cousins at the wedding.
用法筆記
Informal and chiefly British. Often mild or affectionate teasing rather than a serious insult. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense refers to a whole untidy person, never to a part of the neck.
常見錯誤
3. casual, shabby clothes that are too old or rough to wear for work, a special eve
casual, shabby clothes that are too old or rough to wear for work, a special event, or any smart occasion.
Saira spent her whole Sunday lounging at home in her scruff.
in [possessive] scruff for old casual clothes
Christopher painted the fence in an old pair of scruff he kept in the shed.
After the long flight, Defne changed out of her scruff before the meeting.
We were all in our scruff for the muddy walk along the river.
- rags
stresses torn, very worn-out clothing; harsher than 'scruff'
- old clothes
plain everyday phrase; 'scruff' adds an informal, slightly self-mocking tone
- Sunday best
one's smartest clothes, kept for special occasions
用法筆記
Informal British, and fairly rare. Treated as uncountable, like 'old clothes'. Distinguish from sense 2: this names the clothes themselves, not the person wearing them.