scrape through

phrasal verb

scraped through; scraping through; scrapes through
: to succeed at doing something but just barely
He didn't study for the exam and just scraped through.

Examples of scrape through in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In recent years, Norwich City (2007) and Stoke City (who scraped through, 5-4 on penalties, in 2006) have tackled Tamworth on their own soil. Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025 The White Angels finally rushed the civilians to temporary safety, scraping through rubble and under Russian bombardment, and were then able to remove the group farther from the front. Gaëlle Girbes, New York Times, 28 Dec. 2024

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Scrape through.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrape%20through. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!