scruff
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++scruff /skrʌf/ noun 1. by the scruff of the neck HOLDif you hold a person or animal by the scruff of their neck, you hold the skin, fur, or clothes at the back of their neck 抓住颈背，揪住脖子；抓住衣领2. [countable] British English informalUNTIDY someone who looks untidy or dirty 邋遢的人
Examples from the Corpus
scruff• Eventually he pulled her off and dragged her away by the scruff of her neck.• As though some enormous beast nuzzled her then picked her up in its mouth by the scruff of her neck.• Three were dragged back on to the train and taken by the scruff of the neck from station to police car.• He reappeared, grasping the unfortunate by the scruff of his shabby collar.• Quiss heaved the small attendant up by the scruff of its neck until its face was level with his.• One wondered when actor Ron Silver would finally shave the scruff he has been passing off as a beard.Origin scruff (1700-1800) scuff “back of the neck” ((18-19 centuries)), perhaps from Old Norse skoft “hair of the head”scruff nounChinese
person Corpus of animal scruff hold if by you a the or
scruff
scruff /skrʌf/
noun
2. [countable] British English informal someone who looks untidy or dirty
scruff /skrʌf/
noun Date: 1700-1800
Origin: scuff 'back of the neck' (18-19 centuries), perhaps from Old Norse skoft 'hair of the head'
1. by the scruff of the neck if you hold a person or animal by the scruff of their neck, you hold the skin, fur, or clothes at the back of their neckOrigin: scuff 'back of the neck' (18-19 centuries), perhaps from Old Norse skoft 'hair of the head'
2. [countable] British English informal someone who looks untidy or dirty
