scruff Definition
- 1the skin on the back of the neck
- 2a dirty or untidy person
Using scruff: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "scruff" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.
Example
He looked like a scruff in his old clothes.
Example
The scruff of the neck is a common place for cats to be held.
scruff Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for scruff
- nape
- neck
- dirtbag
- slob
- messy person
Phrases with scruff
the loose skin at the back of the neck of an animal, often used to hold or carry them
Example
The mother cat picked up her kitten by the scruff of the neck.
Example
The teacher took the misbehaving student by the scruff of the neck and escorted him out of the classroom.
scruffy-looking
looking dirty, untidy, or unkempt
Example
He showed up to the job interview looking scruffy-looking and unprofessional.
Summary: scruff in Brief
The term 'scruff' [skrʌf] refers to the skin on the back of the neck or a dirty or untidy person. It can be used to describe someone's appearance as in 'He looked like a scruff in his old clothes.' or to refer to the loose skin at the back of an animal's neck, as in 'The mother cat picked up her kitten by the scruff of the neck.'
