scruff of the neck

См. также в других словарях:

• by the scruff of the neck — by the scruff of the/someone’s/neck phrase by the back of the neck He grabbed the boy by the scruff of his neck. Thesaurus: instances of touching, holding and physical contactsynonym Main entry: scruff * * * …   Useful english dictionary

• take by the scruff of the neck — If you take something by the scruff on the neck, you take complete control of it …   The small dictionary of idiomes

• take by the scruff of the neck —    If you take something by the scruff on the neck, you take complete control of it.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

• scruff — [skrʌf] n [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… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

• scruff — 1. noun a) Someone with an untidy appearance That candidate will never get the job, hes a right scruff. b) (Also scruff of the neck) The skin at the back of the neck, the back of the neck, nape. He grabbed his unruly kid by the scruff of the neck …   Wiktionary

• neck — noun 1 part of the body ADJECTIVE ▪ long, short ▪ slender, slim, swan like (literary) ▪ scraggy (BrE), scrawny …   Collocations dictionary

• scruff — [[t]skrʌ̱f[/t]] PHRASE: v n PHR If someone takes you by the scruff of the neck, they take hold of the back of your neck or collar suddenly and roughly. He picked the dog up by the scruff of the neck and hurled her down the stairs …   English dictionary

• scruff — noun 1 by the scruff of the neck if you hold a person or animal by the scruff of their neck, you hold the flesh, fur, or clothes at the back of the neck 2 (C) BrE informal someone who looks untidy or dirty …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

• scruff — n. (to take smb.) by the scruff of the neck * * * [skrʌf] (to take smb.) by the scruff of the neck …   Combinatory dictionary

• scruff — 1. n. the back of the neck as used to grasp and lift or drag an animal or person by (esp. scruff of the neck). Etymology: alt. of scuff, perh. f. ON skoft hair 2. n. colloq. an untidy or scruffy person. Etymology: orig. = SCURF, later worthless… …   Useful english dictionary

• Scruff — Scruff, n. [Cf. {Scuff}.] The nape of the neck; the loose outside skin, as of the back of the neck. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English