had scraped through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had scraped through" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone has barely succeeded or managed to pass something, often with difficulty. Example: "After weeks of studying, I had scraped through the final exam with just enough points to pass."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

He had scraped through.

The New York Times - Magazine

His white skin, red hair and blue eyes belied the months of constant warfare he and his platoon had scraped through.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was a victory that came from nowhere, the work of a squad riven by internal division that had scraped through the pool stages.

The Guardian - Sport

She turned to the front row of the stands to enquire about her fate, smiling with relief when the news came back that she had scraped through as one of the fastest losers.

Independent

Even if it had scraped through the lower house, it was doomed to fail in the Senate, where the Greens who have vowed to kill it—hold the balance of power.

The Economist

"To qualify for the Euro finals felt like winning it," said the coach Ignacio Quereda after his team had scraped through their qualifying play-off against Scotland with a goal in stoppage time of extra time of the second leg.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

On one gallery wall at Hauser & Wirth he has scraped through the white emulsion to reveal red.

The Guardian - Arts

Churchill, who understood the importance of visions and themes, might have scraped through these tests ("Take away this pudding," he once told a waiter, "it has no theme").

The Economist

THE agreement which was supposed to bring a peaceful settlement in Northern Ireland has scraped through repeated trials, but even the stoutest optimists are now quailing.

The Economist

We've seen top teams knocked out quickly and sides who've scraped through the group stages go on to win it".

The Guardian - Sport

He has scraped through several wars, been kidnapped in Waziristan, educated world-famous cricketers, and taken tea with princesses, several prime ministers and a ruthless dictator.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had scraped through" to describe situations where someone or something barely managed to succeed, often after facing difficulties or challenges. It is suitable for describing both personal achievements and broader events.

Common error

Avoid using "had scraped through" to describe ongoing or future events. This phrase is in the past perfect tense, so it should only be used to refer to events that have already concluded.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had scraped through" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense, indicating the completion of an action (barely succeeding) before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that it's correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

25%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had scraped through" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase in the past perfect tense, indicating a narrow success or barely managing to achieve something. Predominantly found in News & Media and Sports contexts, it is used to convey a sense of difficulty and close calls. Ludwig AI validates its usability, while related phrases like "had barely succeeded" and "had narrowly made it" offer nuanced alternatives. When using "had scraped through", ensure correct tense usage and consider the implication of a difficult or close situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had scraped by

Similar to the original phrase, but slightly more informal.

had barely succeeded

Focuses on the minimal level of success achieved.

had narrowly made it

Emphasizes the small margin by which success was achieved.

had just managed to pass

Highlights the act of passing or succeeding, but only just.

had squeaked through

Implies a last-minute success or escape.

had squeezed through

Suggests a tight and difficult passage or situation.

had scraped through by the skin of their teeth

An idiom emphasizing a very narrow escape or success.

had only just survived

Implies a situation of great difficulty and potential failure.

had eked out a victory

Highlights the minimal nature of the victory.

had limped to the finish line

Implies a difficult and weakened state at the end of a process.

FAQs

How can I use "had scraped through" in a sentence?

Use "had scraped through" to indicate a narrow success or escape, implying difficulty. For example, "The team "had scraped through" the qualifying rounds, but they needed to improve to win the championship."

What are some alternatives to "had scraped through"?

You can use alternatives like "had barely succeeded", "had narrowly made it", or "had just managed to pass" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "scraped through" instead of "had scraped through"?

Both are correct but have different meanings. "Scraped through" (past simple) indicates a simple past action. "Had scraped through" (past perfect) indicates an action completed before another point in the past. For example: "They scraped through the exam" versus "They "had scraped through" the exam before the final deadline."

What's the difference between "had scraped through" and "went through"?

"Had scraped through" implies a narrow success after difficulty, while "went through" simply means to experience something. For example: "She "had scraped through" the interview process with minimal preparation", versus "She went through a difficult time after the loss."