Semper Ubi Sub Ubi
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Greg:
January 2nd, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Well, now, as I first heard it, “from scratch” meant that a cake was being made starting with a scratching of one’s head, as if to summon a cake from pure thought.
Rosemarie:
January 11th, 2010 at 2:05 am
‘ Unfortunately, “scratch” as slang for “money,” which appeared in the early 20th century, is a complete mystery. ‘
Could it be that money is what you need to start with? In the same way that flour, sugar, and vanilla are “scratch ingredients” for making a cake “from scratch,” as you so eloquently explain!
Wooden Boat Building: Plans versus Kits | Express Cruiser Boat Building & Design:
June 11th, 2010 at 1:18 am
[…] From scratch « The Word Detective […]
Charlie N.:
July 5th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
How about “scratch” golfer?
Alex:
July 13th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Re. scratch golfer, would the following from the main text not explain:
In foot races, the “scratch” was the starting line, and “to start from scratch” meant to run the race with no advantage, no handicap or head start, i.e., “with nothing.”
Origins 2 - From Scratch | Emily Morgan WritesEmily Morgan Writes:
August 4th, 2013 at 5:08 pm
[…] Detective http://www.word-detective.com/2010/06/from-scratch/ has a marvellous discussion of the origins of the word scratch as well as its origins in phrases […]
Dwight Swartwood:
April 5th, 2014 at 4:58 pm
I believe the term “scratch” used in stead of money, has a old farm background, as in a chicken must “scratch” around the barn yard to find something to eat. “Scratch” means money to live on.
Mary:
April 21st, 2018 at 10:26 pm
A “scratch golfer” is one who hits par on every hole.
Michael:
May 15th, 2020 at 8:52 pm
Scratch as money, could be signifying its an agreed upon standard for keeping track of value. I give you 10 pounds of potatoes, you make a scratch someplace, like a ledger. In turn, you agree to give me some milk or perform some labour, and I then scratch that out of the ledger, or scratch a mark indicated the debt is repaid.
Thajuicilous1:
October 6th, 2020 at 2:39 pm
Growing up in the ghetto we knew scratch to be a term for money, but the context was different. It was more referenced to purchasing addictive transactions in hood life, such as drugs, prostitution and gambling. If you were purchasing something in the hood, “Old Heads” usually used the term scratch. Which I believe derived from if you got an itch you need that scratch.
So the itch was the addictive item they wanted to purchase, the scratch was the means to obtain it. Which also falls in line with the metaphor. Pretty sure this originated in black culture.
K III:
December 15th, 2021 at 7:26 am
Growing up in the upper Midwest, scratch was the term used for the money we had to scratch (scrape) together for any purchase. Bottom of Ma’s purse, under couch cushions, floor of the family car, etc… The good ol’ days!