scratch
5
8.4
- noun
- /skrætʃ/
- Jargon
- There's a late scratch there.
- a healthy scratch
- a late scratch
- a last-hour scratch
Examples
-
- Might be a late scratch.
-
For a second day in a row, Curtis Granderson is a healthy scratch from the lineup.
Blog text (7) -
There are three late scratches from the following race...
-
The Orange had planned to enter a third boat in the fours competition, but that crew was a last-minute scratch because of injury.
Blog text (2) -
Andy Phillips was a late scratch before the game due to neck pain.
-
There were several late scratches in the roster, affecting the team's chances.
-
Murphy was listed as a healthy scratch for the match against Florida.
Synonyms
A person who leaves a competition before it ends
Antonyms
Idioms
A saying that some people who call themselves liberal may show authoritarian views when challenged
Compounds
- Specialized
1
3.5
A simple test that finds allergies by putting small drops on tiny cuts in the skin
- Specialized
1
3.4
An infection from a cat scratch or bite that makes nearby glands swell and is usually mild
- Specialized
1
7.9
A small tool with a sharp point that marks wood or metal before cutting
- Archaic
A simple light farm tool that loosens the top of the soil without turning it over
Surface Forms
Etymology
Scratch for a competitor who has withdrawn comes from the practice of scratching a name off a list to show it is removed. So when someone is a scratch they have been taken off the entry list.