scum
/skʌm/
Definition
Noun:
- A layer of impurities or unwanted material on a liquid's surface: A film or mass, often foamy or dirty, that forms on the top of a liquid, such as on stagnant water, boiling soup, or molten metal.
- Worthless or contemptible people: Used figuratively and derogatorily to describe people considered to be the lowest, most immoral, or most despicable part of society.
Verb:
- To remove scum from a liquid: The action of skimming or taking off a layer of impurities from the surface of a liquid.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Physical Layer):
- A green scum of algae covered the pond.
- Skim the scum off the top of the jam as it boils.
- Noun (Figurative, People):
- The dictator referred to political dissidents as the scum of the earth.
- He believed the thieves and swindlers were just scum.
- Verb:
- Remember to scum the broth before adding the vegetables.
- The process involves scumming the molten iron to remove impurities.
Advanced Usage
- "the scum of the earth": An idiom expressing extreme contempt, describing people considered utterly vile or despicable.
- The traffickers were described as the scum of the earth.
- "to rise to the surface like scum": A metaphorical phrase suggesting that bad or undesirable elements eventually become visible.
- In times of crisis, the worst prejudices rise to the surface like scum.
Variants and Related Words
- Scummy (adjective): Covered with or resembling scum; (figuratively) vile or contemptible.
- The scummy water was unfit for swimming.
- That was a scummy thing to do to a friend.
Synonyms
- Noun (Layer): Film, froth, dross, impurities, crust.
- Noun (People): Dregs, rabble, riffraff, lowlife, trash.
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: "Scum" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. The verb form is typically used transitively on its own.)
Related Idioms
- "Scum rises to the top": A proverb suggesting that in bad systems, the worst people often achieve positions of power or visibility.
- In that corrupt organization, it's no surprise that scum rises to the top.
Noun
-
a film of impurities or vegetation that can form on the surface of a liquid
-
worthless people
Verb
-
remove the scum from
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