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SuperESL Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
scratch
Hi,
Must the word 'scratch,' when being used as an adjective meaning "assembled or made from whatever is available, and so unlikely to be of the highest quality" (e.g. 'City were fielding a scratch squad.'), be used in front of a noun?
Is the following usage acceptable?
"His army is even more scratch than hers."
Thank you.
Must the word 'scratch,' when being used as an adjective meaning "assembled or made from whatever is available, and so unlikely to be of the highest quality" (e.g. 'City were fielding a scratch squad.'), be used in front of a noun?
Is the following usage acceptable?
"His army is even more scratch than hers."
Thank you.
Top answer
I'm unfamiliar with that usage, is it BrE? I'd use terms like "ad hoc", "barebones", or "skeleton crew".
- I'm unfamiliar with that usage, is it BrE?
- I'd use terms like "ad hoc", "barebones", or "skeleton crew".
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2 Answers
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I'm unfamiliar with that usage, is it BrE?
I'd use terms like "ad hoc", "barebones", or "skeleton crew".
I'd use terms like "ad hoc", "barebones", or "skeleton crew".
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The word is familiar in BrE, but to me the predicative use feels unusual.
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