scratch
/skrætʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /skrætʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈskrach/ (ame, mw)
scratch — 動詞
- scratchpresent simple I / you / we / they
- scratcheshe / she / it
- scratchedpast simple
- scratching-ing form
1. to produce a narrow mark on a surface or on your body by running a pointed or ja
刮傷；劃傷
用尖物在表面留下細痕
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.
Ravindra 移動新書桌時，在桌面刮出了一道痕跡。
transitive: scratch + surface damaged
A sharp branch scratched Salma's arm as she ran through the forest.
Salma 跑過樹林時，一根尖樹枝劃傷了她的手臂。
accidental damage with natural object
The cat's claws scratched the leather sofa, leaving thin white lines.
貓咪的爪子在皮沙發上抓出了一道道白色細紋。
Be careful not to scratch the paint when you take the picture off the wall.
把畫從牆上拿下來的時候，要小心不要刮到油漆。
Yuna's new glasses got scratched after she dropped them on the stone path.
Yuna 的新眼鏡掉在石子路上，被刮花了。
文法句型
scratch + noun (surface/skin)
scratch + noun + on/against + noun
noun + scratches + adverb (easily)
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
2. to add a design, writing, or similar result onto a surface, or to remove unwante
刻劃；刮除
用尖物刻上圖案或刮掉東西
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.
有人在公園那張老木椅上刻下了自己的名字縮寫。
adding: scratch + noun + into + surface
Erik scratched a rough map of the campsite onto the ground with a stick.
Erik 用樹枝在地上畫了一張簡陋的營地地圖。
Niran tried to scratch the dried glue off the glass jar with a knife.
Niran 試著用刀子把玻璃罐上乾掉的膠刮掉。
The children scratched patterns in the wet cement before it hardened.
孩子們在水泥未乾之前，在上面刻出了各種圖案。
- 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
文法句型
scratch + noun (mark/design) + on/onto + surface
scratch + noun (unwanted material) + off + surface
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
3. to use the claws to rub against a surface, as a cat, dog, or other animal does
抓扒
動物用爪子摩擦表面
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.
那隻狗每天早上都在後門口抓扒，直到有人讓牠進來。
intransitive: scratch + at + surface
A squirrel scratched noisily at the wooden fence behind the garden shed.
一隻松鼠在花園棚子後面的木籬笆上抓個不停，發出沙沙聲。
The rabbit scratched the bottom of its cage with its strong back feet.
兔子用強壯的後腳抓扒籠子的底部。
Mira watched her kitten scratch at the sofa cushion for several minutes.
Mira 看著她的小貓在沙發墊子上抓了好幾分鐘。
文法句型
animal + scratches
animal + scratches + at/on + surface
animal + scratches + noun
用法筆記
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
搔癢
用指甲抓皮膚止癢
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.
Noa 一直抓他的蚊子包，儘管媽媽叫他不要抓。
scratch + body area (mosquito bites)
Camila kept scratching her arm because the wool sweater made her skin itch.
Camila 不停搔癢她的手臂，因為羊毛衣讓她皮膚發癢。
The doctor warned that scratching the rash would only make it spread.
醫生警告說，抓紅疹只會讓它擴散得更厲害。
Stephanie scratched her head and wondered where she had put her keys.
Stephanie 搔了搔頭，心想自己到底把鑰匙放哪去了。
文法句型
scratch + body part (arm/nose/head)
scratch + an itch
intransitive: stop scratching
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
5. to decide that a person, animal, or team will not take part in a competition aft
退賽
選手在比賽開始前退出
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.
那位冠軍跑者因為膝蓋受傷，被迫退出了比賽。
intransitive: person + scratches from + event
Aaron scratched his horse from the competition when it became sick.
Aaron 的馬生病了，他只好讓牠退出比賽。
transitive: owner + scratches + animal
The tennis player was scratched from the tournament because of a family emergency.
那位網球選手因為家裡有急事，被取消了參賽資格。
Two teams scratched before the match, so the schedule had to be changed.
有兩支隊伍在比賽前退出了，因此賽程必須調整。
文法句型
scratch + noun (runner/horse/team) + from + competition
noun + scratches
be scratched from + competition
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
6. to decide that a planned event or activity will not happen, especially when it h
取消
臨時決定取消原定活動
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.
Naoko 和她的室友原本計劃去野餐，但大雨讓她們只好取消。
informal: scratch + it (referring to plan)
Kofi scratched his weekend hiking trip after checking the weather forecast.
Kofi 查了天氣預報之後，取消了週末的登山計畫。
The concert was scratched at the last minute because the singer lost her voice.
那場演唱會臨時被取消了，因為歌手嗓子啞了。
Salma decided to scratch the dinner party and just order takeout instead.
Salma 決定取消晚餐派對，改叫外賣就好。
- keep
to go ahead with the plan
- go ahead with
to proceed as planned
文法句型
scratch + noun (plan/event/trip)
scratch + noun + from + schedule
用法筆記
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
收回；更正
口頭收回剛才說的話
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.
Eitan 是我見過最懶惰的人——不，收回那句話，他只是很放鬆而已。
pattern: no, scratch that — [correction]
I thought I saw a bear, but scratch that — it was just a large dog.
我以為看到一頭熊，不過更正一下——那只是一隻大狗。
We need three hundred chairs — actually, scratch that, make it four hundred.
我們需要三百張椅子——呃，更正，四百張。
The meeting is on Tuesday — sorry, scratch that, the email says Wednesday.
會議是星期二——抱歉，我收回，email 上寫的是星期三。
- forget that
similar meaning but less common in this specific retraction context
- never mind
more general way to withdraw a statement or request
文法句型
scratch that (as an interjection)
no, scratch that — [replacement]
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
scratch — 名詞
- scratchsingular
- scratchesplural
1. a thin line or mark left on a surface or on your skin when something sharp or ro
刮痕
尖物在表面留下的細條痕跡
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.
新的木桌表面有一道很深的刮痕。
article + adjective + scratch + on
The car door had a long scratch where someone had scraped against a wall.
車門上有一道長長的刮痕，是有人擦到牆壁留下的。
Ravindra noticed a small scratch on his phone screen a week after buying it.
Ravindra 發現他手機螢幕上有一個小刮痕，是在買來一週後才注意到的。
The old vinyl record had so many scratches that the music sounded terrible.
那張老黑膠唱片刮痕太多，放出來的音樂聽起來很糟。
文法句型
a scratch + on + surface
a deep/long/small scratch
用法筆記
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').
常見錯誤
2. the action of rubbing a part of your body or a surface with your fingernails or
抓癢
用指甲摩擦皮膚的動作
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.
那隻狗用後腿好好地抓了抓耳朵後面。
pattern: give + [animal] + a scratch
Yuna's constant scratching had made her mosquito bites even worse.
Yuna 不停地抓癢，讓她的蚊子包變得更嚴重了。
One scratch from the cat's claws and you will need a bandage.
被貓爪子抓到一下，你就得貼OK繃了。
Nellie gave her scalp a quick scratch and then continued reading her book.
Nellie 快速地抓了抓頭皮，然後繼續看她的書。
文法句型
give + noun + a scratch
have a scratch
a scratch with claws/nails
用法筆記
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
退賽者
開賽前退出的參賽者
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.
原本有八匹馬參賽，但有兩匹退賽，最後只剩六匹。
sports context: countable plural
After the scratch of the top seed, the tournament became much more open.
頭號種子退賽之後，整個錦標賽的情勢就開放了許多。
The list of scratches was posted on the notice board outside the race office.
退賽名單貼在賽事辦公室外的布告欄上。
The defending champion was a late scratch, so a replacement fighter stepped in.
衛冕冠軍在賽前臨時退賽，因此由另一位選手替補上場。
- 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
文法句型
a scratch
list of scratches
number of scratches
用法筆記
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 — 形容詞
- scratchpositive
- scratchercomparative
- scratchestsuperlative
1. formed or organized quickly with people who happen to be available at the time,
臨時湊成的
匆忙組成的一群人
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.
學校臨時湊了一隊志願者參加慈善足球賽。
attributive: scratch + team
A scratch band of local musicians played at the opening of the new library.
一支由當地音樂人臨時組成的樂團，在新圖書館的開幕典禮上表演。
Since several players were sick, the coach formed a scratch squad for the game.
因為好幾位球員生病了，教練臨時湊了一隊上場比賽。
The party had a scratch orchestra made up of anyone who could play an instrument.
派對上有一支臨時組成的管弦樂團，成員是任何會樂器的人。
文法句型
scratch + team/crew/band/orchestra/squad
用法筆記
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.