Word Confusion: Scraping versus Scrapping

Third person present verb: scrapes
Past tense or past participle: scraped
Present participle: scraping

Third person present verb: scraps
Past tense or past participle: scrapped
Present participle: scrapping

• Move with or make a harsh scraping sound
• [Humorous] Play a violin or similar stringed instrument tunelessly

To move (a rough or sharp object) across a surface, especially to smooth or clean

[With adverbial] Narrowly pass by or through something

• [With adverbial] Barely manage to succeed in a particular undertaking
• Try to save as much money as possible
• Economize

[scrape by; scrape along] Manage to live with difficulty

To draw one’s foot back noisily along the ground in making a bow

Verb, transitive:
Push, pull, or apply a hard or sharp implement across (a surface or object) so as to remove dirt or other matter

• To move a rough or sharp object across a surface, especially to smooth or clean
• Make a hollow by scraping away soil or rock
• [Often followed by away or off] To remove a layer by rubbing

To finish a surface by use of a scraper

• To level an unpaved road with a grader

To make a bearing, etc., fit by scraping

Rub or cause to rub by accident against a rough or hard surface, causing damage or injury

• Draw or move (something) along or over something else, making a harsh noise
• Draw one’s hair tightly back off the forehead

Just manage to achieve

• Accomplish with great effort or difficulty
• [scrape something together / up] Collect or accumulate something with difficulty

[Computer] Copy data from a website using a computer program

To produce by scraping

To collect or do by or as if by scraping

• [Usually followed by up or together] Do or gather laboriously or with difficulty

• Compete fiercely

Verb, transitive:
Discard or remove from service (a retired, old, or inoperative vehicle, vessel, or machine), especially so as to convert it to scrap metal ²

• Abolish or cancel something, especially a plan, policy, or law that is now regarded as unnecessary, unwanted, or unsuitable

She lifted the gate to prevent its scraping along the ground.

Katie was scraping away at her cello.

There was only just room to scrape through between the tree and the edge of the stream.

He scraped through the entrance exam.

Clinton scraped into office in 1992.

They had scrimped and scraped and saved for years.

She has to scrape by on Social Security.

If we want that loan, we’ll have to bow and scrape to Uncle Edward.

Verb, transitive:
We scraped the dishes clean.

No, Johnny, just rinse off the carrots and scrape them.

She scraped the mud off her shoes.

He scraped the razor across the stubble on his cheek.

He found a ditch, scraped a hole, and put the bag in it.

She reversed in a reckless sweep, scraping the left front fender.

She scraped back her chair and stood up.

Her hair was scraped back into a ponytail.

For some years he scraped a living as a tutor.

They barely scraped up enough money for one ticket, let alone two.

We’ve scrimped and scraped all our lives.

All search engines scrape content from sites without permission and display it on their own sites.

He had scraped an acquaintance with her for but one reason.

Scraping the bottom of the barrel ain’t’cha, mate.

Ma, Ma, Mary scraped her knee somethin’ fierce.

They managed to scrape together a football team.

He scraped his initials on the rock.

The talk-show producers are scrapping for similar audiences.

Oh, please, those two are scrapping from morning to night.

Verb, transitive:
They’re scrapping the entire fleet.

The station scrapped plans to televise the contest live.

They scrapped the old math, and now none of the kids can add or subtract.

Well, if they scrapped the nuclear weapons, we’d be ahead on peace.

Nah, they scrapped that plan.

They scrapped over that bone like they hadn’t eaten in a week.

1. The verb dates from the late 19th century while the noun, in the sense of sinister plot or scheme, is late 17th century and is perhaps from the noun scrape.
2. Related to skrapa meaning to scrape from the Old Norse skrap meaning scraps, it dates back to the late Middle English, as a plural noun denoting fragments of uneaten food.