Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to scratch one's own itch

to scratch one's own itch

7.8
To do something that solves a problem you have
  • idiom
  • Jargon
translation icon : satisfacer una necesidad personal
  • The software was developed because the creator wanted to scratch his own itch.

Examples

  • He decided to scratch his own itch by starting a blog.

  • She often starts projects that scratch her own itch rather than following market trends.

  • Many entrepreneurs found businesses to scratch their own itch when they can’t find a solution elsewhere.

  • Don't you think it's time to scratch your own itch?

  • Many entrepreneurs create products to scratch their own itch when they cannot find a solution elsewhere.

  • She often initiates projects to scratch her own itch instead of following market trends.

  • The application was designed to scratch his own itch based on a need he experienced.

Synonyms

to scratch an itch
vsto scratch one's own itch
  • Informal
4.3

Satisfy a strong wish you cannot ignore

solves a personal need by creating or doing something oneself

Antonyms

to ignore
∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

How Self-Serving

number one
  • Informal
50 7.6
self-seeking
1 6.9
to scratch one's own itch
  • Jargon
7.8
help
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

scratch one's own itch infinitive
scratched one's own itch past
scratched one's own itch past participle
scratching one's own itch present participle
scratches one's own itch third person singular

Morphology

scratch + one + own + itch

The phrase maps transparently from literal parts (scratch = relieve; one's own itch = a personal irritation/desire), so the overall idea of addressing a personal need is inferable. However, the use of 'itch' metaphorically for a desire and the idiomatic collocation 'scratch one's own itch' require some figurative competence and may not be fully predictable to an average B1 learner, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

The phrase scratch one's own itch comes from the image of someone using their hand to scratch an itch only they feel. When a person builds a tool or starts a project to fix their own problem, they are literally 'scratching their own itch', so the phrase means 'to address a personal need'.