# scuffle

/ˈskəfəɫ/ (US) · /skˈʌfəl/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a short fight

noun · CEFR B2

a short, messy fight that is not very serious.

For teachers: a brief, disorganized struggle or fight at close quarters, typically involving little serious injury.

- A small scuffle broke out between the fans after the game ended.
- The protest remained largely peaceful until a minor scuffle between a few demonstrators and security guards erupted near the entrance.

### 2. poverty or struggle

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang

a difficult life where you do not have much money.

For teachers: a state of financial hardship or the constant effort required to survive on a low income.

- He grew up in the scuffle, so he knows the value of a dollar.
- Many artists endure the daily scuffle for years before seeing any significant financial return on their creative work.

### 3. a garden tool

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of garden tool used for removing weeds.

For teachers: a type of hoe with a blade parallel to the ground, operated by a pushing and pulling motion to sever weed roots.

- Use the scuffle to clear the weeds between the rows of vegetables.
- The gardener preferred a long-handled scuffle for weeding the gravel paths, as it allowed for efficient clearance without disturbing the deeper soil layers.

### 4. to fight messily

verb · CEFR B2

to have a short, disorganized fight with someone.

For teachers: to engage in a confused or disorderly struggle at close range.

- The two players scuffled for the ball near the sideline.
- Police officers scuffled briefly with the crowd as they attempted to clear a path for the official vehicle.

### 5. to walk dragging feet

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to walk while dragging your feet along the ground.

For teachers: to walk with a shuffling gait, often making a soft scraping sound.

- The old man scuffled down the hallway in his loose slippers.
- He scuffled across the dry leaves, the sound of his footsteps echoing through the silent woods.

### 6. to struggle financially

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang

to work hard and barely make enough money to live.

For teachers: to struggle to make a living or get by on a very low income.

- She had to scuffle for months to pay off her student loans.
- In a city with such high rents, many young professionals are forced to scuffle just to afford a shared apartment.

## Examples

- The two men had a quick scuffle over the last seat.
- A minor scuffle broke out in the crowd after the referee made a controversial decision in the final minute.
- Witnesses reported a brief scuffle near the entrance before the suspects fled the scene in a silver sedan, leaving behind a trail of broken glass and a damaged security camera.

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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.