# scratch by

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/scratch-by
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To get by; to make ends meet.

## Examples

- They barely scratch by on their small salary.
- After losing his job, he had to scratch by on his savings until he found new work.
- Despite the rising cost of living in the city, the young artist managed to scratch by on odd jobs and freelance commissions.

## Origin

From scratch + by.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.