SCRAPES BY Meaning and
Definition
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Scrapes by is an idiomatic expression that refers to the act of barely managing to meet one's obligations or barely achieving minimal requirements in a particular situation. It conveys the idea of struggling to make ends meet or barely getting by with limited resources or effort. The term often implies a lack of financial stability or insufficient means to sustain oneself adequately.
When someone is said to be scraping by, they are typically operating on the fringe of their financial or other capabilities, feeling the strain of their circumstances. It implies living paycheck to paycheck, having to make difficult choices between basic necessities, or experiencing constant financial hardship. Someone in this situation is often seen as constantly trying to minimize expenses and prioritize needs, sometimes cutting corners or sacrificing luxuries in order to survive.
Additionally, the term can also be used in non-financial contexts. For example, an individual might scrape by in a challenging academic course by earning just enough grades to pass or narrowly avoiding failure. It can also refer to barely managing to accomplish a difficult task or objective.
Overall, "scrapes by" portrays a state of precariousness, with the individual teetering on the verge of insufficiency or failure, but managing to endure or achieve only by the narrowest of margins.
Common Misspellings for SCRAPES BY
- acrapes by
- zcrapes by
- xcrapes by
- dcrapes by
- ecrapes by
- wcrapes by
- sxrapes by
- svrapes by
- sfrapes by
- sdrapes by
- sceapes by
- scdapes by
- scfapes by
- sctapes by
- sc5apes by
- sc4apes by
- scrzpes by
- scrspes by
- scrwpes by
- scrqpes by
Etymology of SCRAPES BY
The phrase "scrapes by" is an idiomatic expression that means to manage to survive or subsist with great difficulty. The etymology of this phrase lies in the literal sense of the word "scrape" and its figurative usage.
The word "scrape" originally derives from the Old Norse word "skrapa", which means to scrape or scratch. It referred to the act of removing or collecting fragments, often by scratching or scraping a surface. Over time, "scrape" gained metaphorical meanings related to difficulties or struggles, representing the idea of "scraping" through challenging circumstances.
The addition of the preposition "by" in the phrase "scrapes by" reinforces the notion of barely managing or narrowly avoiding failure or destitution. Therefore, the phrase "scrapes by" emphasizes the struggle and difficulty involved in barely achieving or sustaining something, typically used in contexts of financial hardship or survival.
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