the scruff of the neck

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• 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 — 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

• scruff — [ skrʌf ] noun count BRITISH INFORMAL someone who looks messy and dirty by the scruff of the/someone s neck by the back of the neck …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

• scruff — nape of the neck, 1790, altered (by influence of scruff crust ) from scuft (1787), probably related to N.Fris. skuft back of the neck of a horse and Du. schoft withers of a horse, from a common Gmc. source (Cf. O.N. skopt hair of the head, Goth.… …   Etymology dictionary

• The Music Goes Round and Round — is a popular song written in 1935.HistoryThe music was written by Edward Farley and Mike Riley, the lyrics by Red Hodgson, and was published in 1935. The song was recorded by Tommy Dorsey and became a hit in 1936. [cite news |first= |last=… …   Wikipedia

• scruff — [skruf] n. [< ON skrufr, a tuft of hair, forelock, var. of skruf, altered by metathesis < skufr, tuft < IE base * (s)keup > OE scyfel, woman s headdress] 1. the back of the neck; nape 2. the loose skin at the back of the neck of some… …   English World dictionary

• 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 — [[t]ne̱k[/t]] ♦♦♦ necks, necking, necked 1) N COUNT: usu poss N Your neck is the part of your body which joins your head to the rest of your body. She threw her arms round his neck and hugged him warmly... He was short and stocky, and had a thick …   English dictionary