HomeServicesBlogDictionariesContactSpanish Course
Home › Dictionary › English › scratch by
← Back to search

Meaning of scratch by | Babel Free

Verb CEFR B2

Definitions

To get by; to make ends meet.

idiomatic

Examples

“It all works great for Walmart or the food-service company, but for people like Gina and her friend Nicole, it means they can barely scratch by.”

CEFR level

B2
Upper Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.
See all B2 English words →

See also

scratch one's head scratch one's own itch scratch out scratch someone's back scratch that scratch the itch

Learn this word in context

See scratch by used in real conversations inside our free language course.

Start Free Course

Know this word better than we do? Language is a living thing — help us keep it growing. Collaborate with Babel Free