How Do You Spell SCRAPE BY?

Pronunciation: [skɹˈe͡ɪp bˈa͡ɪ] (IPA)

The phrase "scrape by" is spelled with a /skreɪp/ sound for "scrape" and a /baɪ/ sound for "by." The "sc" at the beginning makes a /sk/ sound, while the "a" is pronounced as a long /eɪ/ sound. The "p" at the end is silent. The word "by" is spelled with a long /aɪ/ sound, which can be confusing for non-native English speakers who may be expecting the word to be pronounced as "bee". Overall, the phrase means to barely manage or survive with limited resources.

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
Idioms
Similar spelling words
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SCRAPE BY Meaning and Definition

  1. Scrape by is a phrasal verb that refers to the act of barely managing to survive or meet one's needs, usually in terms of finances or resources. The term "scrape" implies that one is just scraping or barely skimming the surface, while "by" denotes the minimum or just enough amount to get through a particular situation or period.

    When someone is "scraping by," it means they are living in a state of financial hardship, struggling to make ends meet, and often barely able to cover essential expenses such as bills, rent, food, and other basic necessities. They may have limited resources and live on a tight budget in order to make it through each day or month. This phrase is often used to describe individuals or families who have a low income, face job insecurity, or are enduring economic difficulties.

    "Scraping by" typically implies that one is barely surviving or making it through challenging circumstances, perhaps without any financial cushion or means to go beyond basic survival. It suggests a level of scarcity or deprivation and conveys a sense of adversity or difficulty in maintaining a decent standard of living. People who are scraping by often have to make sacrifices and prioritize their expenses to ensure they can meet their most immediate needs.

Common Misspellings for SCRAPE BY

  • acrape by
  • zcrape by
  • xcrape by
  • dcrape by
  • ecrape by
  • wcrape by
  • sxrape by
  • svrape by
  • sfrape by
  • sdrape by
  • sceape by
  • scdape by
  • scfape by
  • sctape by
  • sc5ape by
  • sc4ape by
  • scrzpe by
  • scrspe by
  • scrwpe by
  • scrapeby

Etymology of SCRAPE BY

The phrase "scrape by" means to just manage to barely survive or to get by with minimum resources or effort.

The term "scrape" has its roots in Middle English and comes from the Old Norse word "skrapa", which means "to scratch or scrape". It gradually evolved over time and gained various meanings, including "to rub the surface of something to clean or remove", "to scratch slightly", or "to collect with difficulty".

The word "by" in this context refers to means or methods. It comes from Old English and denotes "near" or "side". In this phrase, it signifies the way something is carried out or achieved.

So, the etymology of the phrase "scrape by" suggests the idea of barely managing to collect or obtain, as if one is struggling to gather enough resources or effort to make ends meet.

Idioms with the word SCRAPE BY

  • scrape by To barely manage to survive or succeed, typically with great difficulty.

Similar spelling words for SCRAPE BY