scuffle

/'skʌfl/
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scuffle

Two children scuffle over a toy in the living room.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • A rough, confused, and often brief struggle or fight at close quarters: A "scuffle" typically describes a disorderly physical confrontation involving pushing, grappling, or minor fighting, often without serious injury.
    • (Archaic) A hoe that is used by pushing it forward: This is a specialized, now uncommon, meaning for a type of garden tool.

  2. Verb:

    • To fight or struggle in a confused, disorderly manner at close quarters: This is the primary verbal meaning, describing the act of engaging in a brief, messy fight.
    • To walk by dragging or shuffling one's feet: This meaning describes a specific manner of walking, often implying laziness, reluctance, or tiredness.
Usage Examples

  • Noun:

    • A minor scuffle broke out between the two fans after the game.
    • The police quickly broke up the scuffle outside the bar.

  • Verb (to fight):

    • The protesters and police scuffled briefly before order was restored.
    • The two boys scuffled over the toy.

  • Verb (to walk shufflingly):

    • He scuffled down the hallway in his slippers.
    • We could hear her scuffling along the gravel path.
Advanced Usage
  • "To have a scuffle with someone": to be involved in a brief, disorderly fight with someone.
    • The player had a scuffle with an opponent and received a yellow card.
Variants and Related Words
  • Scuffler (n): A person who scuffles (fights).
  • Scuff (v): To scrape or brush against something, often damaging the surface; related to the shuffling-walk sense of "scuffle."
    • He scuffed his new shoes on the pavement.
Synonyms
  • Noun (fight): Tussle, fracas, brawl, skirmish, altercation.
  • Verb (fight): Tussle, grapple, brawl, clash.
  • Verb (walk): Shuffle, drag one's feet, shamble.
Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Scuffle" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

(Note: There are no common idioms specifically centered on the word "scuffle.")

scuffle

Two children scuffle over a toy in the living room.

Noun
  1. an unceremonious and disorganized struggle
  2. a hoe that is used by pushing rather than pulling
  3. disorderly fighting
Verb
  1. fight or struggle in a confused way at close quarters
    • the drunken men started to scuffle
  2. walk by dragging one's feet
    • he shuffled out of the room
    • We heard his feet shuffling down the hall

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