scraping through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "scraping through" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone barely manages to succeed or get by, often with difficulty. Example: "After weeks of studying, I felt like I was just scraping through the final exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

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

BBC

But she was just scraping through them, readying herself for the lines she had planned to scream.

The New York Times - Arts

The Blues are now the favourites with bookmakers after scraping through the last round against Rubin Kazan last night.

Independent

The poor animal's beautiful, ivory-colored horn scraping through the dirt as he dragged it to her doorstep.

The New Yorker

Stephen Cohen, on the other hand was an appalling pupil, barely scraping through high school despite an extraordinary intellect.

The Guardian - Tech

Never scrabble around for a birthday card, or scraping through the hideous range at the corner shop again.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 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

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

The Economist

The former scraped through, by one point, and continues to impress naysayers who didn't think the team could survive the loss of its lumbering center, Fab Melo.

The New Yorker

The Daily Telegraph contrasted Birmingham's "dazzling Cup run" with the manner in which Manchester City "scraped through", describing the Midlanders as "firm favourites".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "scraping through" to convey a sense of difficulty and a narrow margin of success. This phrase is suitable for describing situations where someone barely manages to achieve a goal or overcome an obstacle.

Common error

Avoid using "scraping through" when describing situations where success was achieved easily or without significant effort. This phrase implies a struggle, so use it only when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "scraping through" functions as an idiomatic phrasal verb. It typically modifies a verb, adding the nuance of achieving something with difficulty or narrowly succeeding. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "scraping through" is a versatile phrasal verb used to describe situations where success is achieved with difficulty or by a narrow margin. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in news and media contexts. While generally neutral in tone, it leans towards informality. Alternatives like "barely succeeding" or "just managing to get by" can be used in more formal settings. Remember to reserve it to scenarios where a true struggle or hardship is evident, thus, respecting its true meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely succeeding

Focuses more on the act of succeeding, but emphasizes the narrow margin.

just managing to get by

Emphasizes the act of getting by, implying a minimal level of achievement.

squeaking by

More informal and emphasizes the narrowness of the success.

getting through by the skin of one's teeth

Idiomatic and emphasizes the difficulty and narrowness of the success.

narrowly escaping failure

Focuses on the avoidance of failure rather than the achievement of success.

scarcely passing

Highlights the minimal nature of the passing grade or achievement.

managing by a whisker

Idiomatic and emphasizes the extremely small margin of success.

eeking out a victory

Emphasizes the difficulty and effort involved in achieving the victory.

limping across the finish line

Suggests a weakened state and difficulty in completing the task.

scraping the bottom of the barrel

Emphasizes using the last resources or options available to achieve something.

FAQs

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

You can use "scraping through" to describe situations where someone barely manages to succeed or get by. For example: "Despite the challenges, the team managed to keep "scraping through" each round of the competition".

What are some alternatives to "scraping through"?

Some alternatives to "scraping through" include "barely succeeding", "just managing to get by", or "squeaking by". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "scraping through" formal or informal?

"Scraping through" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is generally more common in informal settings. In highly formal writing, consider using a more precise alternative.

What does "scraping through" imply about the situation?

"Scraping through" implies that the situation was difficult and success was achieved by a narrow margin. It suggests that there was a significant struggle involved.