v.1. To draw a line or lines on something to delete or obscure it, or to indicate that it should be canceled or ignored: Scratch out anything on the shopping list that you think is too expensive. I didn't like the words you had written, so I scratched them out.
2. To remove someone or something from a list or record: Scratch out the neighbors from the list—they're not coming to the wedding. I'm not playing tonight, so you can scratch my name out.
3. To get by with some way of life, especially with very few resources: We barely scratched out a living during the war.