1 B1 idiomatic informal
To pass an examination or test with a very low score, barely meeting the required standard.
"He scraped through his chemistry exam with just two marks above the pass mark."
inseparable
scrape through
B1 informal inseparable transitive/intransitive
To just barely succeed in passing an exam, test, or difficult situation.
In plain English
To pass something like a test or hard situation, but only just — almost failing.
What does "scrape through" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To manage to pass through or survive a difficult situation with great difficulty.
"The small business scraped through the recession, but several staff had to be let go."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To scrape (just barely fit) through (a narrow opening) — metaphorically, to barely pass through a difficult challenge.
Actually means
To pass something like a test or hard situation, but only just — almost failing.
Usage tip
Commonly used in educational contexts ('scrape through an exam') and sports ('the team scraped through to the final'). Can be intransitive ('she scraped through') or transitive ('she scraped through her finals'). Widely used in British English.
Words that pair with "scrape through"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
exam interview test round season finals
How to conjugate "scrape through"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
scrape through
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scrapes through
he/she/it
Past simple
scraped through
yesterday
Past participle
scraped through
have + pp
-ing form
scraping through
continuous
Hear "scrape through" in the wild
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Other ways to say "scrape through"
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