# scarecrow

/ˈskæɹˌkɹoʊ/ (US) · /skˈeəkɹəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/scarecrow
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. crop protector

noun · CEFR B1

a figure made of straw and old clothes that farmers put in fields to scare birds away.

For teachers: an effigy, typically constructed from straw and discarded clothing, positioned in agricultural fields to deter avian pests.

- The farmer built a tall scarecrow to keep the crows away from the corn.
- The traditional scarecrow stood motionless in the center of the wheat field, its tattered coat fluttering in the autumn breeze.

### 2. unkempt person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person who looks very thin, messy, or is wearing ragged clothes.

For teachers: a derogatory term for a person perceived as resembling a scarecrow, specifically one who is gaunt, awkward, or dressed in rags.

- After weeks of traveling in the rain, he looked like a total scarecrow.
- The protagonist was described as a human scarecrow, with limbs too long for his frame and clothes that had seen better decades.

### 3. harmless threat

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

something that looks scary but is not actually dangerous.

For teachers: a figurative term for an object or situation that appears formidable or threatening but lacks the power to cause actual harm.

- The new law turned out to be a scarecrow with no way to punish people.
- Critics argued that the military buildup was a mere scarecrow, designed to appease the public without intending to initiate actual conflict.

### 4. to make stiff or awkward

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to make someone look or act stiff and strange, like a straw figure.

For teachers: to cause a person or their posture to appear rigid, awkward, or ungainly, reminiscent of an effigy.

- The heavy, oversized coat seemed to scarecrow his small frame.
- The ill-fitting ceremonial armor served only to scarecrow the young squire, making his every movement appear jerky and unnatural.

## Examples

- The farmer built a tall scarecrow to protect the corn.
- Crows gathered on the fence, seemingly aware that the ragged scarecrow in the center of the field was not a real person.
- The traditional scarecrow has largely been replaced by modern auditory deterrents and reflective tapes, though it remains a persistent symbol of rural life in folklore and autumn decorations.

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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.