Idioms for scratch
- from the very beginning or starting point.
- from nothing; without resources: After the depression he started another business from scratch.
from scratch,
up to scratch,
in conformity with a certain standard; adequate; satisfactory: The local symphony orchestra has improved this year, but it is still not up to scratch.
Origin of scratch
1425–75; late Middle English
scracche (v.), blend of Middle English
scratte to scratch, and
cracche to scratch; cognate with Middle Dutch
cratsen
OTHER WORDS FROM scratch
Words nearby scratch
scrapie,
scraping,
scrapper,
scrapple,
scrappy,
scratch,
scratch awl,
scratch card,
scratch coat,
scratch file,
scratch hardness
British Dictionary definitions for from scratch
scratch
/ (skrætʃ) /
verb
noun
adjective
See also
scratches,
scratch together
Derived forms of scratch
scratchy, adjective scratchily, adverb scratchiness, nounWord Origin for scratch
C15: via Old French
escrater from Germanic; compare Old High German
krazzōn (German
kratzen); related to Old French
gratter to
grate
1
Idioms and Phrases with from scratch (1 of 2)
from scratch
From the very beginning, from the outset; from nothing. For example, I knew we'd have a problem from scratch. Similarly, to start from scratch means “to start from the very beginning,” as in After the business failed, they decided to reorganize and start from scratch. This term comes from racing, where a competitor starts from the line scratched into the ground (whereas others may start ahead with a handicap). [Mid-1800s] Also see from the ground up; from the word go.
Idioms and Phrases with from scratch (2 of 2)
scratch