1 B2 idiomatic informal
To manage to live or function over time with very limited money or resources.
"After losing his job, he scraped along on his small savings for several months."
inseparable
scrape along
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
To manage to live or continue with very little money or resources over an extended period.
In plain English
To keep going in life even though you barely have enough money or things you need.
What does "scrape along" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To move along a surface while scraping against it, making a rasping sound.
"The heavy furniture scraped along the wooden floor as they pushed it toward the wall."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To scrape (move with difficulty along a surface) — extended metaphorically to mean barely progressing through life.
Actually means
To keep going in life even though you barely have enough money or things you need.
Usage tip
Implies prolonged financial hardship or difficulty. More common in British English. Often used with 'on' ('scrape along on a small income'). Less common than 'scrape by'.
Words that pair with "scrape along"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
income pension salary benefits savings wage
How to conjugate "scrape along"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
scrape along
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scrapes along
he/she/it
Past simple
scraped along
yesterday
Past participle
scraped along
have + pp
-ing form
scraping along
continuous
Hear "scrape along" in the wild
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