DictionaryscrapeAwkward predicament
noun

scrape

A difficult or embarrassing situation.

He is in another scrape at school.

Etymology

Scrape applies the discomfort of scraping against an obstacle to a troublesome situation. A person in a scrape has encountered difficulty that requires escape or repair.

More examples

  • Her quick thinking got us out of a scrape.
  • The stolen keys landed him in a serious scrape.
  • They laughed about the scrapes they had survived together.

Forms

scrape · scrapes

Similar words

predicament
A more neutral term for a difficult situation.
jam
An informal alternative for being in trouble.