scrape through

USAGE SUMMARY

"scrape through" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone barely succeeded or passed a test, exam, or other challenging situation. For example: "He was worried he wasn't going to pass, but he managed to scrape through."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Politics

Academics

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 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

After being selected this time, he told the BBC he was pleased he "managed to scrape through", adding that addressing fellow UKIP members made him "nervous" as they are a "bloody-minded lot".

BBC

"He'll scrape through now.

The Guardian - Sport

But what lies beyond if they do scrape through?

Independent

We may yet destroy ourselves; we might scrape through.

The Guardian - Books

So we scrape through, by the skin of our teeth.

The Guardian

Most merely try to scrape through the day.

The New York Times

Tindall added: "We don't want to win ugly and scrape through.

Independent

"1GB would probably just scrape through for games in 2013," says Simon Barratt of FourDoorLemon.

The Guardian - Tech

Even so, experts generally agree that at least a handful of resolutions could scrape through.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scrape through" to describe situations where success is achieved with minimal effort or resources. It's best suited for scenarios where the outcome was uncertain or difficult to achieve.

Common error

Avoid using "scrape through" in highly formal or professional settings. Opt for more sophisticated vocabulary when communicating with executive stakeholders to ensure that the tone of your content is professional.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scrape through" functions as an intransitive verb, often followed by prepositions like 'in', 'on', or 'to'. It signifies achieving a minimal level of success or barely managing to overcome a challenge, as Ludwig AI highlights.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sport

25%

Politics

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scrape through" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe barely achieving success or managing to overcome a challenge with minimal effort. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides numerous examples from reputable sources such as The Guardian, BBC, and The New York Times. While its usage is widespread in news, sports, and general media, it is less common in formal or academic writing. To ensure correct usage, avoid using "scrape through" in professional content, and be mindful of the subtle implication of struggle and minimal success that the phrase conveys.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scrape by the skin of one's teeth

Adds vividness to the narrowness of the success.

barely pass

Focuses on the minimal level of achievement required to succeed.

succeed by the narrowest of margins

Emphasizes the slim margin of success in a formal tone.

squeak by

Emphasizes the narrow margin of success.

get by with a whisker

Illustrates the closeness to failure.

limp across the finish line

Highlights the exhausted state of the one succeeding.

eke out a victory

Implies a hard-fought and narrow win.

manage to get through

Stresses the effort involved in barely succeeding.

get over the line

Suggests just passing the threshold to achieve success.

just make it

Focuses on the accomplishment of success without any description of style.

FAQs

How can I use "scrape through" in a sentence?

You can use "scrape through" to describe barely succeeding in a task or situation. For example, "He managed to "scrape through" the exam with a passing grade."

What are some alternatives to "scrape through"?

Alternatives to "scrape through" include "barely pass", "squeak by", or "just make it" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to "scrape through" or fail?

While failing means not achieving the desired outcome, to ""scrape through"" indicates minimal success. It's generally better than failing, but it also suggests a need for improvement.

What does it mean to "scrape through+by+the+skin+of+your+teeth"?

To "scrape through by the skin of your teeth" is an idiom that means to succeed by a very narrow margin. It emphasizes that the success was almost a failure.