scraping by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scraping by" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where someone is managing to survive or get by with very little, often in terms of finances or resources. Example: "After losing his job, he was just scraping by, barely able to pay his bills each month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

(See: "Scraping By").

Forbes

Americans are barely scraping by.

The Economist

"We are just scraping by".

The New York Times

They fend for themselves, barely scraping by.

The New York Times

"I'm scraping by right now," he said.

The New York Times

Yet, he says now, he was barely scraping by.

The Guardian - Books

Even so, it is just scraping by, Mr. Haffey said.

The New York Times

But on her low wages, she is barely scraping by.

The New York Times

Or as Mrs. DeFede, 74, explained, "We're just scraping by".

The New York Times

Their father was a Boston candle-maker, scraping by.

The New York Times

And a lot of people who are scraping by.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scraping by" to describe situations where someone is managing to survive or operate with minimal resources, especially financially. For example, "After the factory closed, many families in the town were just "scraping by".

Common error

Avoid using "scraping by" when the situation involves deliberately reducing quality or ethical standards to save money. "Scraping by" implies a lack of resources, whereas cutting corners suggests a conscious choice to compromise standards.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scraping by" functions primarily as a predicate in a sentence, often following a subject and a verb like "is", "are", or "was". According to Ludwig AI, the expression is grammatically sound and used to describe managing to survive with very little.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "scraping by" is a common English expression used to describe managing to survive or operate with very limited resources, particularly financial ones. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous real-world examples, primarily from news and media sources. While phrases like "just getting by" or "barely making ends meet" offer similar meanings, "scraping by" often implies a greater degree of difficulty and struggle. When writing, it's important to use "scraping by" in contexts where resources are genuinely scarce and avoid confusing it with situations where standards are deliberately compromised to save money. Therefore, this review provides a thorough exploration of this expression, aiding in its accurate and effective use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just getting by

Focuses on the act of managing to live or operate, but the sense of struggle isn't necessarily as strong as in "scraping by".

barely making ends meet

Specifically refers to financial survival, highlighting the difficulty of covering expenses.

living hand to mouth

Emphasizes the precariousness of the financial situation, suggesting a lack of savings or security.

eking out a living

Implies a laborious and difficult effort to earn enough to survive.

squeezing by

Suggests that one is managing to pass a deadline or some sort of requirement in the very last moment.

barely surviving

Highlights the difficulty of the situation and the struggle for survival.

living on a shoestring

Focuses on managing with very little money, emphasizing frugality and resourcefulness.

getting by on the skin of one's teeth

Emphasizes narrowness and luck involved in managing to succeed or survive.

barely subsisting

Suggests a minimal level of existence, often due to poverty or hardship.

living from paycheck to paycheck

Highlights the lack of savings and reliance on each payment to cover immediate expenses.

FAQs

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

You can use "scraping by" to describe a situation where someone is managing to survive with very little money or resources. For example, "Despite working two jobs, they were still just scraping by".

What are some alternatives to "scraping by"?

You can use alternatives like "just getting by", "barely making ends meet", or "living hand to mouth" depending on the context.

Is it more common to say "scraping by" or "barely scraping by"?

Both phrases are used, but "scraping by" is more common. Adding "barely" emphasizes the difficulty of the situation, but is slightly less common than just "scraping by".

What is the difference between "scraping by" and "getting by"?

"Scraping by" implies a greater level of difficulty and struggle than "getting by". "Getting by" suggests managing, while "scraping by" suggests managing with extreme difficulty and limited resources.