Collocations for "scratch"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "scratch" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
scratch
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.n
- got a scratch on his [leg, face, arm, cheek, knee]
- her [leg] was covered in scratches
- has scratches from the [dog, cat, pet, rose thorns, wall]
- it's only a scratch
- there are scratches on this [CD, record, disc]
- a few scratches on the [car, chassis, wing]
- need to start from scratch
- made the [cookies, pasta, bread] from scratch
- his [work, output, performance] is not up to scratch
- scratch [the paint, my watch, the surface]
- [the paint] was scratched
- [the paint] [doesn't, won't, shouldn't] scratch
- scratch your [elbow, face, back]
- scratch [constantly, gently, vigorously]
- scratch out the [clues, answers, comments]
- the [clues] were scratched out
- the [cat, claws, branch] scratched her face
- the [cat] scratched at the [door, flap, window]
- scratch out the [answer, line, word]
- scratch out a living
- scratch your [name, initials] into the [tree, paint]
- scratch him from the [race, competition, list]
- he was scratched from the [race]
- [write, draw, scrawl] on scratch paper
- need a piece of scratch paper
- scored with a scratch shot
- [gather, put together] a scratch crew
- UK: [beaten up, threatened] by a scratch mob
- scratch-and-sniff stickers
- won [$1,000] from a scratch card
- is full of scratch marks
'scratch' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):