[scare out of one’s wits] or [scare stiff] or [scare the daylightsout of] {v. phr.}, {informal} To frighten very much. •/The owl’shooting scared him out of his wits./ •/The child was scared stiff in thedentist’s chair./ •/Pete’s ghost story scared the daylights out of thesmaller boys./

[scare to death] See: TO DEATH.

[scare up] or [scrape up] {v.}, {informal} To find, collect, orget together with some effort when needed. •/The boy scared up enough moneyto go to college./ •/"Will you stay for supper?" she asked. "I can scare upenough for us all."/ •/He managed to scrape up the money for his speedingfine./

[scene] See: BEHIND THE SCENES.

[scent] See: THROW OFF THE SCENT.

[schedule] See: ON SCHEDULE.

[scheme] See: COLOR SCHEME.

[school] See: TELL TALES OUT OF SCHOOL.

[school of hard knocks]{n. phr.} Life outside of school or college;life out in the world; the ordinary experience of learning from work andtroubles. •/He never went to high school; he was educated in the school ofhard knocks./

[score] See: SETTLE A SCORE also WIPE OUT AN OLD SCORE, THE SCORE.

[scot-free]{adj. phr.} Without punishment; completely free. •/Inspite of his obvious guilt, the jury acquitted him and he got off scot-free./

[scotch broth]{n.} A thick barley soup with vegetables and mutton orbeef. •/Mother cooked a hearty scotch broth for dinner./

[Scott] See: GREAT GODFREY or GREAT SCOTT.

[scout] See: GOOD EGG or GOOD SCOUT.

[scout around]{v. phr.} To search for; look around. •/When we firstcame to town, we had to scout around for a suitable apartment./

[scrape] See: BOW AND SCRAPE.

[scrape the bottom of the barrel]{v. phr.}, {informal} To use ortake whatever is left after the most or the best has been taken; accept theleftovers. •/At first they took out quarters, but they had so little moneythat they had to scrape the bottom of the barrel and paid with nickels andpennies for their lunch./ •/The garage owner had to scrape the bottom ofthe barrel to find a qualified mechanic to work for him./

[scrape together]{v. phr.} To quickly assemble, usually from scantyingredients. •/We were so hungry we had to scrape together some lunch fromall kinds of frozen leftovers./

[scrape up] See: SCARE UP.

[scratch] See: FROM SCRATCH, PUT ONE’S MONEY ON A SCRATCHED HORSE, UP TOPAR or UP TO SCRATCH.

[scratch around for]{v. phr.} To search randomly for something. •/Ifyou scratch around for a more reliable used car, maybe you’ll feel moreconfident on the road./

[scratch one’s back]{v. phr.}, {informal} To do something kind andhelpful for someone or to flatter him in the hope that he will do something foryou. Usually used in the expression "You scratch my back and I’ll scratchyours." •/Mary asked Jean to introduce her to her brother. Jean said, "Youscratch my back and I’ll scratch yours."/

[scratch the surface]{v. phr.} To learn or understand very littleabout something. — Usually used with a limiting adverb (as "only", "hardly").•/We thought we understood Africa but when we made a trip there we found wehad only scratched the surface./ •/High school students have only scratchedthe surface of their subjects, and even after college graduation, they stillfind there is much more to learn./

[scream bloody murder]{v. phr.}, {informal} To yell or protest asstrongly as one can. •/When the thief grabbed her purse, the woman screamedbloody murder./ •/When the city doubled property taxes, home ownersscreamed bloody murder./

[screen test]{n.} A short movie made to see if an actor or actress isgood enough or the right one to play a part. •/Ellen acted well on the stage,but she failed her screen test./

[screw] See: HAVE A SCREW LOOSE, PUT ON THE SCREWS.

[screw around]{v. phr.}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To hang aroundidly without accomplishing anything, to loaf about, to beat or hack around.•/You guys are no longer welcome here; all you do is screw around all day./

[screws] See: TIGHTEN THE SCREWS.

[screw up]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {semi-vulgar}, {bestavoided} 1. To make a mess of, to make an error which causes confusion.•/The treasurer screwed up the accounts of the Society so badly that he hadto be fired./ 2. To cause someone to be neurotic or maladjusted. •/Herdivorce screwed her up so badly that she had to go to a shrink./

[screw-up]{n.} A mistake; an error; a confusing mess. •/"What ascrew-up!" the manager cried, when he realized that the bills were sent to thewrong customers./

[screw up one’s courage] or [pluck up one’s courage] {v. phr.} Toforce yourself to be brave. •/The small boy screwed up his courage and wentupstairs in the dark./ •/When his father came home in a bad mood, it tookPete some time to screw up his courage and ask him for a dollar./ Compare:WHISTLE IN THE DARK.

[scrimmage] See: LINE OF SCRIMMAGE.

[scrounge around]{v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To search for an objectaimlessly without having one clearly in mind. •/I don’t know what’s thematter with him, he is just scrounging around all day long./ 2. To lookaround for a way to get a free drink or a free meal. •/Sue and her husbandare so broke they never eat properly; they just scrounge around from one placeto the next until someone offers them something./

[sea] See: AT SEA, BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA, HIGH SEAS, NOTTHE ONLY FISH IN THE SEA, PUT TO SEA.

[sea legs]{n. phr.} 1. Adjustment to being in a boat that is rockingon the sea. •/This is my first transatlantic trip so give me a day to get mysea legs before you make me dance./ 2. Adjustment to a new job or situation.•/"I have just been transferred here and I haven’t found my sea legs yet,"the new colleague joked./

[seam] See: BURST AT THE SEAMS.

[search] See: IN SEARCH OF.

[search me]{informal} I don’t know; how should I know? — May beconsidered rude. •/When I asked her what time it was, she said, "Search me, Ihave no watch."/

[search one’s heart] or [search one’s soul] {v. phr.}, {formal}To study your reasons and acts; try to discover if you have been fair andhonest. •/The teacher searched his heart trying to decide if he had beenunfair in failing Tom./ — [heart-searching] or [soul-searching]{n.} or {adj.} •/After much heart-searching, Jean told Beth she wassorry for the unkind things she had said./ •/The minister preached asoul-searching sermon about the thoughtless ways people hurt each other./

[search out]{v.} To search for and discover; find or learn by hunting.•/The police were trying to search out the real murderer./

[search with a fine-tooth comb] See: FINE-TOOTH COMB.

[season] See: HIGH SEASON, IN SEASON, LOW SEASON, OUT OF SEASON.

[seat] See: BACK SEAT DRIVER, FLY BY THE SEAT OF ONE’S PANTS, HOT SEAT,JUDGMENT SEAT, TAKE A BACK SEAT.

[seat belt]{n.} A strong strap used to protect a person in a movingcar or other vehicle by holding him in his seat. •/When the plane began toland, Billy and his mother fastened their seat belts./ •/Passengers inautomobiles should wear seat belts for safety./