it scrapes through

USAGE SUMMARY

"it scrapes through" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where someone or something barely manages to succeed or pass a test or requirement. For example: "Despite the challenges, the project scrapes through to completion." Alternative expressions include "it barely makes it" and "it just gets by."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Music

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"There were times during the mixing when I thought, 'I'm not sure about this,' but it scrapes through.

The Guardian - Music

Assuming it scrapes through the current crisis, and there's really no reason it shouldn't, its fate hinges much more on events in Germany than on what happens in places like Cyprus and Greece.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I'm not bothered whether in the semi-finals tomorrow I scrape through in eighth place.

Independent

I'm not bothered whether in the semi-finals I scrape through in eighth place.

Independent

In the end it scraped through, with some conditions attached by the EU.

The Economist

It scraped through a confidence vote earlier this year, thanks only to the support of the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP), which demanded various spending increases.

The Economist

M2: I was able to show the student my poster…… my student's initial reaction to that was 'that's fantastic', and I said 'no it's not, I scraped through and my poster is a perfect example of what not to do.

BMC Medical Education

M2 showed his student his poster as a means of demonstrating what mistakes he made so that his student did not replicate these: M2: I was able to show the student my poster…… my student's initial reaction to that was 'that's fantastic', and I said 'no it's not, I scraped through and my poster is a perfect example of what not to do.

BMC Medical Education

The legislation scraped through, saving Mr Blair from the indignity of a vote of confidence despite his large parliamentary majority.

The Economist

Lowe, 21, was fifth fastest in 57.57 seconds with Gandy scraping through in eighth in 57.97.

BBC

It helped when FEMA said it could scrape through the week without more cash, making it unnecessary to revisit the 2011 budget at least.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it scrapes through" when you want to convey that something barely succeeded, often implying that the margin of success was very small. Be mindful of the context; this phrase works well in situations where a more emphatic expression might be too strong.

Common error

Avoid using "it scrapes through" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and professional language to describe near-success scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it scrapes through" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating a minimal level of success or passage. Ludwig examples confirm its usage to describe situations where something barely succeeds.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Music

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it scrapes through" is used to express that something barely succeeds or passes a requirement. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts. Although "it scrapes through" is considered appropriate for general communication, avoid it in highly formal or academic writing. Consider alternative phrases such as "it barely succeeds" or "it narrowly passes" to fit various registers. Ludwig's analysis indicates that the phrase effectively communicates a sense of near failure or minimal success.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it barely succeeds

Focuses on the minimal level of success achieved.

it narrowly passes

Emphasizes the closeness of the passing.

it just makes it

Highlights the effort required to succeed.

it squeaks by

Suggests a fortunate and possibly unexpected success.

it scrapes by the skin of its teeth

Adds vivid imagery to the narrowness of the success.

it barely gets through

Focuses on the act of getting past an obstacle.

it manages to pass with difficulty

Explicitly states the difficulty involved in passing.

it gets a reprieve

Suggests a temporary escape from a negative outcome.

it crawls over the finish line

Emphasizes exhaustion and near failure.

it ekes out a victory

Implies achieving a victory with meager resources or effort.

FAQs

What does "it scrapes through" mean?

The phrase "it scrapes through" means that something barely succeeds or passes a test or requirement. It implies a narrow margin of success.

What can I say instead of "it scrapes through"?

You can use alternatives like "it barely succeeds", "it narrowly passes", or "it just makes it" depending on the context.

Is "it scrapes through" formal or informal?

"It scrapes through" tends to be more informal. For formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "it narrowly succeeds" or "it barely achieves the minimum requirement".

How can I use "it scrapes through" in a sentence?

You might say, "The project had several setbacks, but "it scrapes through" to completion despite the challenges".