scuffle

scuffle Definition

scuf·fle (skuf′əl)

intransitive verb -·fled, -·fling

to struggle or fight in rough confusion
to move in a confused hurry or bustle
to drag the feet; shuffle
☆ Informal to try hard but with little or no success; specif., to struggle to survive

Etymology: freq. of scuff

noun

scuffle Synonyms

scuffle Usage Examples

Object

noise: A key turned in a lock, and as he passed in there was a curious scuffling noise from within.
sound: A kind of scuffling sound, made by something that moved.

Converse of object

hear: I turned round to adjust my mittens, I think, when I heard a slight scuffle but no cry.
have: For example the other day I had a scuffle outside the police station some people pushed me.
see: During a chase a man who had seen the scuffle asked the store detective if he needed a hand.
spark: Temperatures became frayed and a challenge on McNamara by Winter sparked a 14-man scuffle, the Rovers player being booked.
involve: The latter show up as red dots on your radar, and usually involve scuffles between criminals and the public or the police.
start: They started a scuffle, during which she received a fatal wound to her throat.

Preposition: between

player: Referee Walsh has given the Lions a penalty for offside, but after a brief scuffle between the players, the penalty is reversed.

Adjective modifier

minor: About a year ago he got involved in a minor scuffle outside the school gates.
brief: Referee Walsh has given the Lions a penalty for offside, but after a brief scuffle between the players, the penalty is reversed.
short: In a short scuffle the hero knocks out the baddie with a single punch.
few: People easily pushed passed and legged it down the road with a few more scuffles breaking out.
several: It was complete chaos and there were several scuffles with the riot Police and the mounted Police just causing more and more problems.
small: She was in a club on George Street when a small scuffle broke out.

Noun used with modifier

playground: It would be hard to imagine a playground scuffle breaking out over her let alone a full-scale war.

Preposition: with

police: Scuffles with Turkish police and banned by UEFA for four European games.
officer: At 4.45 a young black was arrested outside a minicab office in Atlantic Road after a scuffle with a plain clothes police officer.
guard: Zoom Fawkes scuffles with guards in this dramatic nineteenth century painting depicting the moment of discovery.

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