1 B2 idiomatic informal
To barely manage to survive financially, having just enough to cover basic needs.
"After the factory closed, many families in the town were left scratching by on unemployment benefits."
inseparable
scratch by
B2 informal inseparable intransitive
To manage to survive with very little money or resources; a variant of 'scrape by'.
In plain English
To just barely have enough money to live, with nothing extra.
What does "scratch by" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Less common than 'scrape by' and considered a regional variant, more frequent in American English. Functionally identical to 'scrape by' in the sense of barely managing financially.
Words that pair with "scratch by"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
income wages pension savings living
How to conjugate "scratch by"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
scratch by
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scratches by
he/she/it
Past simple
scratched by
yesterday
Past participle
scratched by
have + pp
-ing form
scratching by
continuous
Hear "scratch by" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "scratch by" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "scratch by"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.