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scrounge up

B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words

To find or get something even though it's hard to find, sometimes by asking people for it

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic informal

To manage to find or gather enough of something (especially money or resources) through effort, begging, or searching

"We scrounged up enough money for a bus ticket home."

"I'm trying to scrounge up some cash for a new guitar."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To find or obtain food or supplies by searching or asking others, especially in difficult circumstances

"The campers scrounged up some firewood from around the site."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal

To find or produce something at short notice, often from unexpected or improvised sources

"Can you scrounge up a spare chair for the meeting?"

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Very common in informal American and British English. Implies resourcefulness but also a degree of desperation or reliance on others. Often used with words like 'enough', 'some', or a specific sum of money.

Commonly used with

money food cash enough supplies a meal

Forms

Base
scrounge up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
scrounges up
he/she/it
Past simple
scrounged up
yesterday
Past participle
scrounged up
have + pp
-ing form
scrounging up
continuous

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Synonyms

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