scratch
verb uk/skrætʃ/ us/skrætʃ/
(CUT)
B2 [ I or T ]抓；搔；擦；划
to cut or damage a surface or your skin slightly with or on something sharp or rough
We scratched the wall trying to get the bed into Martha's room. 我们把床搬进玛莎的房间里时，把墙面给划坏了。
Be careful not to scratch yourself on the roses. 当心不要被玫瑰刺扎伤。
A few chickens were scratching about/around (= searching with their beaks) in the yard for grain. 几只鸡在院子里到处扒寻谷粒吃。
B2 [ T ]刻；刮
If you scratch something on or off a surface, you add it or remove it by scratching.
People have been scratching their names on this rock for years. 许多年来人们都在这块岩石上刻写名字。
I scratched some paint off the door as I was getting out of the car. 我下车时蹭掉了车门上的一些漆。
B2 [ I ]（动物）用爪子抓，搔
If an animal scratches, it rubs something with its claws (= sharp nails).
The dog's scratching at the door - he wants to be let in. 狗用爪子抓门——它想进来。
B2 [ I or T ]（用指甲）搔，挠
to rub your skin with your nails
He was scratching (at) his mosquito bites. 他在抓挠蚊子咬过的地方。
Hannah scratched her head thoughtfully. 汉娜一边思索一边挠头。
- More examples
- The top of the desk was badly scratched.
- The car's paintwork has been scratched.
- Paintwork on the corner of a stairway tends to get scratched.
- I accidentally scratched her with my long nails.
- I scraped the car against a post and scratched the paintwork.
(REMOVE)
[ I or T ]（使）退出比赛
to remove yourself or another person or an animal from a competition before the start
The world champion scratched from the 800 metres after injuring herself the day before. 这位世界冠军在比赛前一天受了伤，只好退出800米赛跑。
They scratched the horse from the race because she had become lame. 由于马瘸了腿，所以他们让它退出了比赛。
(STOP)
[ T ] informal (UK usually scrub)取消（原计划）
to decide not to do something you had planned to do
We had to scratch our plans when I lost my job. 我失业了，我们不得不取消计划。
Synonym: cancel
Idioms
scratch your headidiom 冥思苦想
to think hard about something
A lot of people must be scratching their heads about which way to vote. 一定有很多人在冥思苦想应该把票投给哪一方。
scratch beneath the surfaceidiom 透过表面观察事物
to look further than what is obvious
If you scratch beneath the surface you'll find she's really a very nice person. 如果你深入了解，会发现她其实是个好人。
you scratch my back and I'll scratch yoursidiom informal 你帮我，我也帮你;咱们互惠互利
used to tell someone that if they help you, you will help them
Phrasal verb
scratch around for something 搜寻
to look for something that is very difficult to find because it is rare
The editor of the local paper says he's really scratching around for stories this week. 当地报纸的编辑说，他这个星期一直在很努力地到处寻找新闻。
scratch
noun uk/skrætʃ/ us/skrætʃ/
(MARK/ACT)
B2 [ C ]抓痕；擦痕；划痕；刮痕
a mark made by scratching
Her legs were covered in scratches and bruises after her walk through the forest. 她步行穿过森林，腿上满是擦伤和瘀青。
There was a scratch on the CD. CD上有道划痕。
Amazingly, he survived the accident without a scratch (= without suffering any injuries at all). 令人惊奇的是，他在这场事故中幸存了下来，而且毫发未损。
[ S ] UK（人或动物的）搔，挠
an act of scratching
That dog is having a good scratch. It must have fleas. 狗在使劲地挠痒，它身上一定有跳蚤。
Idioms
from scratchidiom C1 从头开始，从零开始
from the beginning, without using anything that already exists
Ben built the shed from scratch. 本从零开始把棚屋搭了起来。
up to scratchidiom C2 达到标准
reaching an acceptable standard
Your last essay wasn't up to scratch/didn't come up to scratch. 你上一篇文章没有达到要求。
scratch
adjective UK uk/skrætʃ/ us/skrætʃ/
scratch team/side/orchestra 临时拼凑起来的队伍／派别／管弦乐队
a group of people brought together in a hurry in order to play together on a particular occasion
He knew that any shortcomings of what was essentially a scratch side would be exposed by the opposition.
It wasn't a bad performance for a scratch team.
We had to quickly put together a scratch team, which wasn't easy.
They did pretty well for a scratch side.
She used a scratch orchestra of complete amateurs but the results were impressive.