1 B2 idiomatic informal
To find or gather something with difficulty, especially using limited resources or ingenuity.
"Can you scare up enough chairs for everyone? We have more guests than expected."
separable
scare up
B2 informal separable transitive
To manage to find, gather, or produce something with difficulty or from limited resources.
In plain English
To find or get something even when it's hard to find.
What does "scare up" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To manage to produce a meal or food quickly from whatever ingredients are available.
"I'll see what's in the fridge and scare up some dinner for us."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To frighten something upward — the connection to the idiom is not transparent; 'scare up' likely derives from flushing game birds out of cover.
Actually means
To find or get something even when it's hard to find.
Usage tip
Chiefly American English. Informal and conversational in tone. Implies resourcefulness and effort. Often used with words like 'money', 'food', 'help'. Not used in formal writing.
Words that pair with "scare up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
money food votes support help evidence
How to conjugate "scare up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
scare up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scares up
he/she/it
Past simple
scared up
yesterday
Past participle
scared up
have + pp
-ing form
scaring up
continuous
Hear "scare up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "scare up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.