- scratch at something
- scratch at somethingto scratch something. •
You shouldn't scratch at a chigger bite because it might get infected.
•Don't scratch at it!
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
scratch at something
Look at other dictionaries:
scratch — 1 verb 1 RUB YOU SKIN (I, T) to rub your skin with your nails, especially because it itches (itch1 (1)): Try not to scratch those mosquito bites. 2 MAKE A MARK (T) to rub something sharp or rough against a hard surface so that it makes a thin… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
scratch out — verb strike or cancel by or as if by rubbing or crossing out scratch out my name on that list • Syn: ↑cut out • Hypernyms: ↑erase, ↑rub out, ↑score out, ↑efface, ↑wipe off … Useful english dictionary
scratch off — verb write quickly She dashed off a note to her husband saying she would not be home for supper He scratched off a thank you note to the hostess • Syn: ↑dash off, ↑knock off, ↑toss off, ↑fling off • Topics: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
scratch — [skrach] vt. [LME scracchen, prob. altered < scratten, to scratch, based on cracchen < or akin to MDu cratsen, to scratch < IE base * gred > Alb gërüj, (I) scratch] 1. to mark, break, or cut the surface of slightly with something… … English World dictionary
scratch your head — phrase to not understand something, or to not know how to deal with it The decision has left many party members scratching their heads. Thesaurus: to not understand, or to misunderstandsynonym Main entry: scratch * * * scratch your head informal … Useful english dictionary
scratch someone's back — see ↑scratch, 1 • • • Main Entry: ↑back scratch someone s back informal : to do something that helps someone else but that is often wrong or difficult to do You scratch my back, and I ll scratch yours. [=if you do something to help me, I ll do… … Useful english dictionary
Scratch — Scratch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Scratched}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Scratching}.] [OE. cracchen (perhaps influenced by OE. scratten to scratch); cf. OHG. chrazz[=o]n, G. kratzen, OD. kratsen, kretsen, D. krassen, Sw. kratsa to scrape, kratta to rake, to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
scratch the surface — {v. phr.} To learn or understand very little about something. Usually used with a limiting adverb (as only , hardly ). * /We thought we understood Africa but when we made a trip there we found we had only scratched the surface./ * /High school… … Dictionary of American idioms
scratch the surface — {v. phr.} To learn or understand very little about something. Usually used with a limiting adverb (as only , hardly ). * /We thought we understood Africa but when we made a trip there we found we had only scratched the surface./ * /High school… … Dictionary of American idioms
scratch — ► VERB 1) make a long mark or wound on (a surface) with something sharp or pointed. 2) rub (a part of one s body) with one s fingernails to relieve itching. 3) (of a bird or mammal) rake the ground with the beak or claws in search of food. 4)… … English terms dictionary
scratch around for — ˌscratch a ˈround for [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they scratch around for he/she/it scratches around for present participle scratching around for past tense scratched around for … Useful english dictionary
