Starting From Scratch Means Starting From a Line
To scratch is to mark a surface with something sharp. The phrase about starting from scratch comes from a line scratched on the ground.
To scratch is to mark or scrape a surface. Two familiar phrases come from sport. In old foot races the starting line was scratched into the ground, so starting *from scratch* meant beginning with no head start; and a competitor who was *up to scratch* was fit to toe that line. A scratched entry is one withdrawn.
- To mark with something sharp. *Scratch the paint.*
- To rub an itch. *Scratch your arm.*
- To withdraw from a race. *The horse was scratched.*
- From scratch — from the beginning. *Made from scratch.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | scratch | Scratch the surface. |
| Past | scratched | Badly scratched. |
| Noun | scratch | A deep scratch. |
| Adjective | scratchy | A scratchy jumper. |
| Phrase | up to scratch | Not up to scratch. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The soup is made from scratch.From raw ingredients.
- That barely scratches the surface.Meaning it touches only the beginning.
- Two runners were scratched.Withdrawn from the race.
Scratch phrases
- From scratch — from nothing, from the start line
- Up to scratch — meeting the required standard
- Scratch the surface — deal with only a small part
- Scratch card — a card with a covering to remove
- Scratch player — in golf, one with a handicap of zero
A Middle English word, probably a blend of *scrat* and *cracchen*, both meaning to scratch. The sporting sense of a scratched line dates from the eighteenth century.
Where does *from scratch* come from?
From the line scratched into the ground at the start of a race. A runner starting from scratch had no handicap advantage.
What is a scratch golfer?
A player with a handicap of zero, who is expected to play to the course's par.