scrag

/skræg/

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The word "scrag" can be understood in a couple of different ways, both as a noun and a verb. Let’s break it down:

As a Noun:

1. Definition:

   • Lean End of Veal: In cooking, "scrag" refers to the thin, lean part of the neck of a young cow (veal). It’s often used in making soups or stews where the meat can become tender.
   • Scrawny Person: It can also mean a person who is very thin or skinny, often in a way that looks unhealthy or weak.

2. Usage Example:

   • "The chef used the scrag of veal to make a delicious broth."
   • "He was so thin that his friends jokingly called him a scrag."

As a Verb:

1. Definition:

   • To "scrag" someone means to strangle or choke them, often in a violent way. This could refer to actions like wringing someone’s neck or using a device to choke them.

2. Usage Example:

   • "In the movie, the villain attempted to scrag his opponent during the fight."

Advanced Usage:

• "Scrag" can sometimes be used in a more figurative sense to describe someone who is weak or not performing well, especially in a competitive situation.

Word Variants:

• Scraggy (adjective): This describes something that is thin, scrawny, or having an uneven shape, often used to describe a person or an animal.
  • Example: "The scraggy dog looked like it hadn’t eaten in days."

Different Meanings:

• In some dialects or contexts, "scrag" may have additional meanings, but the primary ones are related to meat or describing someone as thin.

Synonyms:

• For the noun meaning of a thin person: Scrawny, skinny, emaciated.
• For the verb meaning of to strangle: Choke, throttle, garrote.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "scrag," but the concept of "choking" can appear in phrases like "choke under pressure" which means to fail to perform well in a stressful situation.

Summary:

"Scrag" can refer to a part of meat in cooking or describe someone who is very thin. As a verb, it means to strangle someone.

Academic

Noun

1. the lean end of a neck of veal
2. lean end of the neck
3. a person who is unusually thin and scrawny

Verb

1. wring the neck of
   • The man choked his opponent
2. strangle with an iron collar
   • people were garrotted during the Inquisition in Spain

Synonyms

• scrag end
• thin person
• skin and bones
• choke
• garrote
• garrotte
• garotte