There is not really enough money to live on, and we just have to scrape by on what we can earn.
•We can't scrape by with only that amount of money.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
scrape by (on something) — ˌscrape ˈby (on sth) derived to manage to live on the money you have, but with difficulty • I can just scrape by on what my parents give me. Main entry: ↑scrapederived … Useful english dictionary
scrape — vb Scrape, scratch, grate, rasp, grind are comparable when they mean to apply friction to something by rubbing it with or against a thing that is harsh, rough, or sharp. Scrape usually implies the removal of something from a surface with an edged … New Dictionary of Synonyms
scrape together something — scrape together (something) to gather something that is not easily available, esp. money. He managed to scrape together $20 for the train and came back home. Many immigrants have difficulty scraping enough money together for the application.… … New idioms dictionary
Scrape — (skr[=a]p), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scraped}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Scraping}.] [Icel. skrapa; akin to Sw. skrapa, Dan. skrabe, D. schrapen, schrabben, G. schrappen, and prob. to E. sharp.] 1. To rub over the surface of (something) with a sharp or rough… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
scrape together — (something) to gather something that is not easily available, esp. money. He managed to scrape together $20 for the train and came back home. Many immigrants have difficulty scraping enough money together for the application. Usage notes: also in … New idioms dictionary
scrape — [skrāp] vt. scraped, scraping [ME scrapen < ON skrapa, akin to Du schrapen, OE screpan, to scratch < IE base * (s)ker , to cut > SCURF, SHARP] 1. to rub over the surface of with something rough or sharp 2. to make smooth or clean by… … English World dictionary
scrape through — ˌscrape ˈthrough [intransitive/transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they scrape through he/she/it scrapes through present participle scraping through … Useful english dictionary
scrape the bottom of the barrel — informal phrase to use or do something that you know is not very good, because you do not have anything better They’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel with these latest recruits. Thesaurus: to use something, or to be usedsynonym… … Useful english dictionary
scrape together — ˌscrape to ˈgether ˌscrape ˈup [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they scrape together he/she/it scrapes together present participle … Useful english dictionary
scrape through something — ˌscrape ˈthrough | ˌscrape ˈthrough sth derived to succeed in doing sth with difficulty, especially in passing an exam • I might scrape through the exam if I m lucky. Main entry: ↑scrapederived … Useful english dictionary
Scrape — Scrape, v. i. 1. To rub over the surface of anything with something which roughens or removes it, or which smooths or cleans it; to rub harshly and noisily along. [1913 Webster] 2. To occupy one s self with getting laboriously; as, he scraped and … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
