scraped by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scraped by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone barely manages to achieve something, often with difficulty or minimal success. Example: "Despite the challenges, she scraped by in her exams, just passing with the minimum required grades."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

She scraped by.

The New York Times - Sports

Still, I scraped by.

The New York Times - Magazine

She's scraped by.

The Guardian

They scraped by, barely.

The New Yorker

In New York the family scraped by.

The New York Times

Mangan scraped by doing Web consulting.

The New York Times - Magazine

So I got scraped by the metal and stuff".

The New York Times

But Chambers seems mostly to have just scraped by.

The New York Times - Arts

Mr. Epps scraped by, barely, at 6-foot-1.

The New York Times

The skies were first scraped by the Pyramids.

The New Yorker

Mr. Romney scraped by Mr. Paul by just 194 votes.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scraped by" to convey a sense of struggle and minimal success. It's appropriate when you want to emphasize the difficulty someone faced while achieving something.

Common error

While "scraped by" is common, it can sound too informal for academic or professional writing. In those cases, consider more formal alternatives like "barely managed" or "narrowly succeeded".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scraped by" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It describes the action of managing to achieve something, often with difficulty and minimal success, as shown in examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

3%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the idiomatic verb phrase "scraped by" signifies managing to achieve something with difficulty, often barely succeeding. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and media. While suitable for general conversation, more formal alternatives may be preferable in academic or professional writing. Remember to use this phrase to emphasize the struggle and minimal success involved in an achievement. The phrase is very common and has a neutral register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

got by

A simpler, more general term for managing.

barely managed

Highlights the minimal effort required to succeed.

just got through

Emphasizes the narrow margin of success.

squeaked through

Suggests a fortunate escape from failure.

eked out a living

Focuses on surviving with very limited resources.

scarcely survived

Implies a difficult and challenging existence.

limped along

Indicates slow and unsteady progress.

barely subsisted

Stresses the minimal level of sustenance.

scrimped and saved

Highlights the efforts to conserve resources.

made ends meet

Focuses on balancing income and expenses.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "scraped by"?

Saying someone "scraped by" means they barely managed to achieve something, often with difficulty and minimal resources. It implies a narrow escape from failure or a struggle to survive.

How can I use "scraped by" in a sentence?

You can use "scraped by" to describe how someone managed to achieve a goal despite challenges. For example, "Despite the financial difficulties, they scraped by and managed to pay the bills."

What are some alternatives to "scraped by"?

Some alternatives to "scraped by" include "barely managed", "just got through", or "squeaked through", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "scraped by" appropriate for formal writing?

While "scraped by" is widely understood, it's generally considered informal. For formal writing, consider using alternatives like "narrowly succeeded" or "barely managed".