scratch up
B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To find or collect a small amount of something with a lot of effort, or to make scratch marks on a surface.
Literal meaning: To scratch (score a surface) upward, or to scratch things up from the ground into a pile.
Meanings
1 B2
idiomatic
informal
To gather enough money or resources with difficulty.
"Can you scratch up twenty dollars for the taxi? I'll pay you back tomorrow."
Grammar: separable
2 B1 neutral
To damage a surface by making scratches on it.
"The dog had scratched up the back door trying to get inside."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Less common than 'scrape up'. Has both a literal sense (damage by scratching) and an idiomatic sense (gather with difficulty). The literal sense is straightforward; the idiomatic sense is informal.
Commonly used with
money cash surface paint funds support
Forms
Base
scratch up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scratches up
he/she/it
Past simple
scratched up
yesterday
Past participle
scratched up
have + pp
-ing form
scratching up
continuous
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Synonyms
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