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Glite Dictionary
to scratch out

to scratch out

4 4.0
Draw lines through writing so you cannot read it
  • phrasal verb
  • /skrætʃ aʊt/
translation icon : tachar
  • Had my mother known, she would have scratched out the request herself.
  • scratch out the word
  • scratch her name out
  • scratch out a note

But if there's nothing there, then so just scratch out and start over.

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Examples

  • But I already scratched it out.

    1776 (1972)

  • "Sure you can." John took his pen, scratched out his autograph, and pleased another fan.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • I used the hour he was gone to scratch out ideas on a pad of yellow paper.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • And soon she was caught up in the story, scratching out old lines and jokes and writing in new ones.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • So let's just scratch out this X&Y here.

  • Soon, an idea slid into view and I scratched out some notes.

    Academic text (2010)

  • And he stomped inside, scratched out a quick note, and brought it back to them.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • When I reread that sentence, I scratched out robins and wrote in blue jays.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • She decided to scratch out the incorrect answer before writing in the correct one.

  • The teacher asked us to scratch out any mistakes in our essays before submitting them.

Synonyms

to erase
vsto scratch out
144 1.6

Remove marks, writing, or digital files so they are no longer visible

focuses on physical removal by lines or rubbing rather than general deletion
to scratch
vsto scratch out
80 3.4

To remove or cancel something, for example a meeting

specifies removal done by lines or rubbing until invisible
to cut out
vsto scratch out
77 3.2

To remove a shape from paper or cloth using scissors

removes marks or cancels items mainly by lines or rubbing rather than cutting
to wipe away
vsto scratch out
28 2.0

To remove something from a surface by moving a cloth over it, like tears or dirt

includes wiping but more often implies drawing lines or rubbing to cancel
to wipe off
vsto scratch out
20 1.0

Remove dirt or marks from a surface by rubbing with a cloth

often removes marks by drawing or rubbing rather than simple wiping
to cross out
vsto scratch out
14 2.3

Draw a line through a word or item to show it should be removed

uses drawn lines or rubbing to make marks disappear
to strike out
vsto scratch out
8 3.7

Remove a name or item from a list by drawing a line through it

is similar but applies to any mark removed by lines or rubbing
to rub out
vsto scratch out
1 4.3

Erase a mark by using an eraser or cloth until it disappears

can use rubbing but also uses drawn lines to cancel marks
to rub away
vsto scratch out
1 3.4

Remove a mark by moving a cloth or hand over it many times

includes rubbing but also covers drawing lines to cancel text
to stroke out
vsto scratch out
1 6.2

Draw a line through words or text to show they should be ignored

does the same but can also rub away marks completely
to score out
vsto scratch out
  • UK
5.2

To draw a line through written words to show they are wrong

removes or cancels by drawing lines or rubbing until unseen

Antonyms

to add
∞ 1.0

Include something extra to make something larger or better

How Complete

to obliterate
71 7.5
to erase
144 1.6
to scratch out
4 4.0
to cross out
14 2.3

Surface Forms

scratch out infinitive
scratched out past
scratched out past participle
scratching out present participle
scratches out third person singular

Morphology

scratch + out

The meaning 'to remove or cancel by making marks' follows directly from combining 'scratch' (to mark or scrape, here used as crossing out) with the particle 'out', which in phrasal verbs commonly signals removal or completion. This is a literal, compositional phrasal verb pattern that a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reliably infer.

Etymology

The phrasal verb scratch out comes from the simple act of writing: when you want to cancel a word you scratch it by drawing lines across it so the letters are crossed out. So, the phrase now means 'to remove' or 'cancel' something by making it unreadable.