Get to know Scruff better with 10+ real example sentences, the meaning and synonyms like nape or rear.
Scruff meaning
- Someone with an untidy appearance.
- Stubble, facial hair (on males).
- Crust.
Using Scruff
- The main meaning on this page is: Someone with an untidy appearance. | Stubble, facial hair (on males). | Crust.
- Useful related words include: nape, nucha, rear, backside.
- In the example corpus, scruff often appears in combinations such as: the scruff, scruff of.
Context around Scruff
- Average sentence length in these examples: 24.6 words
- Position in the sentence: 3 start, 10 middle, 7 end
- Sentence types: 18 statements, 0 questions, 2 exclamations
Corpus analysis for Scruff
- In this selection, "scruff" usually appears in the middle of the sentence. The average example has 24.6 words, and this corpus slice is mostly made up of statements.
- Around the word, confessed, beard, light and cream stand out and add context to how "scruff" is used.
- Recognizable usage signals include by the scruff of the and by the scruff of its. That gives this page its own corpus information beyond isolated example sentences.
- By corpus frequency, "scruff" sits close to words such as abattoirs, abike and ablative, which helps place it inside the broader word index.
Example types with scruff
The same corpus examples are grouped by length and sentence type, making it easier to see the contexts in which the word appears:
Finn just had it by the scruff of its neck. (10 words)
Scheffler is taking this tournament by the scruff of the neck now. (12 words)
Players capable of taking a game by the scruff of the neck. (12 words)
Southgate enthused about Sterling’s ability to “grab the game by the scruff of the neck”, as he did in both of England’s Euro 2020 qualifiers – against Bulgaria and Kosovo – and on whether he can become the world’s best. (41 words)
After a slow start to last Friday’s match, in which their hosts pressed Morton into a couple of early mistakes before spurning their opportunities, the visitors took the match by the scruff of the neck. (36 words)
Having had the match by the scruff of the neck in the second set, the Belarusian said it had an emotional impact on her when Jabeur eased her grip on the contest. (32 words)
Remember that Hermansen save at 1-1… Coventry played very well and could easily have won but Dewsbury-Hall took this game by the scruff and won it for us! (30 words)
Indeed, some of them did not want to be president but were dragged by the scruff of the neck and plonked into that exalted seat! (25 words)
Example sentences (20)
Having had the match by the scruff of the neck in the second set, the Belarusian said it had an emotional impact on her when Jabeur eased her grip on the contest.
I just sensed that it wouldn’t have taken that much for us to get hold of the game by the scruff of the neck.
Pinchbeck then kept Melton at bay until the last half-an-hour when the visitors grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck and the floodgates opened.
Remember that Hermansen save at 1-1… Coventry played very well and could easily have won but Dewsbury-Hall took this game by the scruff and won it for us!
The self-confessed “scruff” has a passion for guitars, the work of fellow architect Luis Barragán, and finds most answers in the study of Le Corbusier.
Yet, when called to account, when grabbed by the scruff of their necks and dragged to the principal’s office, bullies whine, lie, wring their hands and cast blame on others.
After a slow start to last Friday’s match, in which their hosts pressed Morton into a couple of early mistakes before spurning their opportunities, the visitors took the match by the scruff of the neck.
Da Silva and Kusal took the innings by the scruff of the neck and their effort has given Sir Lanka a real chance on the last day.
Indeed, some of them did not want to be president but were dragged by the scruff of the neck and plonked into that exalted seat!
Scheffler is taking this tournament by the scruff of the neck now.
These products include SPF lotion, beard & scruff cream, shower gel, body wash and foam bath, and face and body wash.
Another recruit, Brad Hill, has been eye catching this season but hasn't taken a game by the scruff of the neck.
Both Grindr and Scruff have made efforts to be more trans inclusive, that is a move that I completely applaud.
The Yellow Ranger immediately pulled the opponent up to a standing position by the scruff of the foam rubber turtle shell.
Despite being without his trademark bread, Kit appeared to be growing back a light scruff on his chin.
Finn just had it by the scruff of its neck.
In the car park of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, pictured, Steeds had a row with a driver which culminated in him grabbing him by the scruff of the neck.
Olivia gave an especially good performance when Brian Tyree Henry's character in "Widows" was forced to violently pick her up by the scruff.
Players capable of taking a game by the scruff of the neck.
Southgate enthused about Sterling’s ability to “grab the game by the scruff of the neck”, as he did in both of England’s Euro 2020 qualifiers – against Bulgaria and Kosovo – and on whether he can become the world’s best.
Common combinations with scruff
These word pairs occur most frequently in English texts:
- the scruff 19×
- scruff of 17×