scrape (someone or something) up
To find and gather or collect (things or people) from various sources or locations. I managed to scrape up enough cash to get a bus out to Vancouver to see my girlfriend this weekend. How are we ever going to scrape enough people up to form a team by this weekend?
scrape (someone or something) up off (something)
To peel or gather something or someone up from some surface, such as the floor or the road, especially when that person or thing is or seems to be stuck to it. I passed out after drinking at the party until 6 AM, and I had to be scraped up off the floor the next morning. I spent about an hour last night scraping dried pizza cheese up off the carpet.
pinch and scrape
To spend as little money as possible; to be very frugal or tight, especially with the aim of saving up for something bigger. Ever since we had our second child, we've had to pinch and scrape to make sure they both get what they want for Christmas.
in a scrape
In a challenging or problematic situation; in a predicament. I'm in a bit of a scrape here—I need to be at a job interview in an hour, and my car won't start.
bottom of the barrel
and bottom of the heapFig. the location of persons or things of the very lowest quality; someone or something of the lowest quality. (The fruit at the bottom of a barrel of apples is likely to be bruised from the weight of the other apples.) That last secretary you sent me was really the bottom of the barrel. I don't need any candidates from the bottom of the heap.
bow and scrape
Fig. to be very humble and subservient. Please don't bow and scrape. We are all equal here. The salesclerk came in, bowing and scraping, and asked if he could help us.
have a scrape (with someone or something)
Fig. to come into contact with someone or something; to have a small battle with someone or something. I had a scrape with the county sheriff. John and Bill had a scrape, but they are friends again now.
scare someone or something up
Rur. to search for and find someone or something. Go out in the kitchen and scare some food up. I'll see if I can scare up somebody to fix the broken chair.
scrape along (on something)
and scrape along (with something)to manage just to get along with a minimum amount of something. We can just scrape along on the money I earn from my sewing. Do you think you can scrape along with just $400 per month?
scrape by
(on something) and scrape by (with something) to manage just to get by with something. (Usually applies to a more specific period or time or a more specific event than scrape along (on something).) There is not really enough money to live on, and we just have to scrape by on what we can earn. We can't scrape by with only that amount of money.
scrape by
(something) to manage just to get by something. I scraped by the man standing at the gate and got into the theater without a ticket. Mary scraped by the cart that was blocking the crowded hallway.
scrape by
(with something) Go to scrape by (on something).
scrape someone or something together
and scrape someone or something upFig. to find and collect something; to locate and assemble a group of people or things. (Based on scrape something up.) Fm sure we can scrape up someone for the job. Mary scraped a few dollars together for some new books. John barely scraped up enough money to pay his rent.
scrape something away (from something)
to scratch or rasp something off something. Ted scraped the rough places away from the fender he was repairing. Ted scraped away the rough places.
scrape something off (of) someone or something
and scrape something offto rub or stroke something off someone or something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) I sat down and scraped the caked mud off of me. It was everywhere! Jake scraped off the rust.
scrape something out
to empty something by scraping. Scrape the pan out. Don't leave any of that good sauce inside. Please scrape out the pan.
scrape something out of something
and scrape something Outto remove something by scraping. Scrape all the peanut butter out of the jar before you discard it. Scrape out the peanut butter.
scrape something together
to gather things together by scraping. The waiter scraped all the crumbs together and removed them from the table with a little gadget. Karen scraped together all the trimmings and set them aside.
scrape the bottom of the barrel
to select from among the worst; to choose from what is left over. You've bought a bad-looking car. You really scraped the bottom of the barrel to get that one. The worker you sent over was the worst I've ever seen. Send me another—and don't scrape the bottom of the barrel.
scrape through
(something) 1. Lit. to move through something, scraping or rubbing the sides. The car, going at a very high speed, scraped through the tunnel. It just managed to scrape through.
2. Fig. to get by something just barely; to pass a test just barely. Alice passed the test, but she just scraped through it. I just scraped through my calculus test.
scrimp and save
and pinch and scrapeto be very thrifty; to live on very little money, often in order to save up for something. We had to scrimp and save in order to send the children to college. The Smiths pinched and scraped all year in order to go on a Caribbean cruise.
bottom of the barrel
The least desirable, the dregs, as in The nominating committee had trouble finding candidates; they were settling for the bottom of the barrel . The phrase often occurs in scrape the bottom of the barrel, meaning "to use the least desirable elements" (because one has no choice), as in Bringing up that minor legal point proves that you're scraping the bottom of the barrel. This metaphor for the sediment left by wine in a barrel was already used by Cicero to describe the lowest elements of Roman society. [First half of 1900s]
bow and scrape
Behave obsequiously or too deferentially, as in In this fashionable store, the salespersons virtually bow and scrape before customers. This term alludes to the old-fashioned custom of bowing so deeply that one's foot draws back and scrapes the ground. A cliché for a century or more, it may be dying out. [Mid-1600s]
scare up
Also,
scrape together or up . Assemble or produce with considerable effort, as in
We managed to scare up extra chairs for the unexpectedly large audience, or
He managed to scrape together enough cash to buy two more tickets. The first term alludes to
scare in the sense of "flush game out of cover" and dates from the mid-1800s; the variant, alluding to scratching or clawing for something, was first recorded in 1549. Also see
scrape up an acquaintance.
scrape up an acquaintance
Make an effort to become familiar with someone, especially for one's own benefit. For example,
He scraped up an acquaintance with the college president in hopes of getting his son admitted . This term uses
scrape in the sense of "gather with difficulty" (also see under
scare up). Originally put as
scrape acquaintance, it was first recorded in 1600.
scrimp and save
Economize severely, spend as little as possible, as in For years we had to scrimp and save, but now we can enjoy life more. [Mid-1800s]
scare up
v. To gather or prepare something with a lot of effort or ingenuity: They managed to scare up some folding chairs for the unexpected crowd. I'll go in the kitchen and try to scare something up from among the leftovers.
scrape along
v.1. To succeed just barely in managing or surviving, especially despite severely limited resources: We scraped along on very little income until I could find work.
2. To succeed or manage at a level of minimal acceptability: The parents were concerned that their child was just scraping along.
scrape by
v.1. To succeed just barely in managing or surviving, especially despite severely limited resources: When I was out of work, my family and I barely scraped by. We scraped by on just $3 a day.
2. To succeed at a level of minimal acceptability: The student just scraped by with a D average.
3. To succeed just barely in passing some obstacle, such as a competition or evaluation: The tennis player scraped by the third round with a narrow victory.
scrape through
v. To succeed just barely in getting through something: I didn't get a chance to study, and I barely scraped through the final exam.
scrape together
v. To accumulate or produce something with difficulty: We scraped together just enough cash to pay for the pizza. The kitchen was so empty that we could barely scrape a meal together.