The farmer somehow managed to scratch a living from the arid land.
* * *
He scratched out a living as a farmer.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
scratch a living — to manage to earn only just enough money to live The farmer somehow managed to scratch a living from the arid land … English dictionary
scratch — /skrætʃ / (say skrach) verb (t) 1. to break or mark slightly by rubbing, scraping, or tearing with something sharp or rough. 2. to dig, scrape, or to tear (out, off, etc.) with the claws, the nails, etc. 3. to rub or scrape lightly with the… …
scratch — scratch1 [ skrætʃ ] verb * ▸ 1 rub with your nails ▸ 2 damage surface ▸ 3 produce noise ▸ 4 remove someone/something ▸ 5 decide not to do something ▸ 6 write something quickly ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) intransitive or transitive to pull your nails along… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
scratch — 1 verb 1 RUB YOU SKIN (I, T) to rub your skin with your nails, especially because it itches (itch1 (1)): Try not to scratch those mosquito bites. 2 MAKE A MARK (T) to rub something sharp or rough against a hard surface so that it makes a thin… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
scratch — scratch1 [skrætʃ] v ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(rub your skin)¦ 2¦(cut somebody s skin)¦ 3¦(make a mark)¦ 4¦(animals)¦ 5¦(remove something)¦ 6¦(remove writing)¦ 7¦(make a noise)¦ 8 scratch the surface 9 scratch your head 10¦(stop something happening)¦ … Dictionary of contemporary English
scratch — I UK [skrætʃ] / US verb Word forms scratch : present tense I/you/we/they scratch he/she/it scratches present participle scratching past tense scratched past participle scratched * 1) [intransitive/transitive] to pull your nails along your skin,… … English dictionary
living — {{Roman}}I.{{/Roman}} noun ADJECTIVE ▪ comfortable, decent, good, honest ▪ He makes a good living as a builder. ▪ meagre/meager ▪ She eked ou … Collocations dictionary
living — liv|ing1 [ˈlıvıŋ] adj 1.) alive now ≠ ↑dead ▪ He s one of the greatest living composers. ▪ The sun affects all living things (=people, animals, and plants) . ▪ a living language (=one that people still use) 2.) living proof if someone is living… … Dictionary of contemporary English
living — 1 adjective 1 alive now: one of the greatest living composers 2 living proof if someone is living proof of a particular fact, they are a good example of how true it is: I m living proof that you don t need a college degree to be successful. 3 in… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
scratch — ► VERB 1) make a long mark or wound on (a surface) with something sharp or pointed. 2) rub (a part of one s body) with one s fingernails to relieve itching. 3) (of a bird or mammal) rake the ground with the beak or claws in search of food. 4)… … English terms dictionary
