1 B2 neutral
To remove something from a surface by scratching or scraping with claws or fingernails.
"The cat had clawed off most of the wallpaper in the hallway."
separable
claw off
C1 informal separable transitive
To remove something by scratching or clawing at it repeatedly.
In plain English
To scratch something off a surface using your nails or claws.
What does "claw off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
(nautical) To sail or maneuver a vessel away from a dangerous coastline or obstacle.
"In worsening weather, the crew struggled to claw off the rocky shore."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To use claws to remove something from a surface.
Actually means
To scratch something off a surface using your nails or claws.
Usage tip
Used both literally (an animal or person scratching something off a surface) and in a nautical sense — 'claw off a lee shore' means to sail away from a dangerous coastline. The nautical sense is specialized and rare.
Words that pair with "claw off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
bark label paint scab shore surface
How to conjugate "claw off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
claw off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
claws off
he/she/it
Past simple
clawed off
yesterday
Past participle
clawed off
have + pp
-ing form
clawing off
continuous
Hear "claw off" in the wild
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