What are the definitions of “scrape up”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Manage to collect enough of something you need, usually money.
It took me ages to SCRAPE UP the money for the tickets.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “scrape up”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb scrape up is to manage to collect enough of something you need, usually money. It often implies that the process is difficult or takes a long time.
What are the different verb forms of “scrape up”?
| Root Verb | scrape up |
| Third Person Singular Present | scrapes up |
| Present Participle | scraping up |
| Simple Past | scraped up |
| Past Participle | scraped up |
Example
I need to scrape up enough money to buy a new laptop.
Example
She scrapes up some extra cash by doing odd jobs.
Example
He is scraping up funds for his upcoming trip.
Example
They scraped up enough money to pay for the car repairs.
Example
The money for the project was scraped up through various fundraising efforts.
What kind of phrasal verb is “scrape up”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“scrape up” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
I scraped up enough money to buy a new phone.
Example
She scraped up the funds for her college tuition.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“scrape up” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
I scraped up enough money to buy a new phone.
Example
She scraped up the funds for her college tuition.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “scrape up”?
Good things to know
Does “scrape up” have an informal or formal tone?
Scrape up is generally considered informal and is more commonly used in everyday conversations and casual contexts. In more formal settings, it may be more appropriate to use synonyms such as 'gather,' 'collect,' or 'accumulate.'
