Chicken Scratch

B1 8+

Pronunciation: /ˈtʃɪkən ˈskrætʃ/

Definitions of chicken scratch

noun a small or insignificant amount of something

Example Sentences

A1 The child's handwriting looks like chicken scratch.

A2 I can barely read your chicken scratch, please write more clearly.

B1 The notes were written in chicken scratch, making it difficult to decipher.

B2 The professor's chicken scratch on the whiteboard was illegible to most students.

C1 Despite his messy chicken scratch, the author's ideas were still clear.

C2 The artist's chicken scratch sketches were surprisingly detailed and expressive.

Examples of chicken scratch in a Sentence

formal The document was filled with chicken scratch, making it difficult to read.

informal I can't understand your chicken scratch handwriting, please write more clearly.

slang His notes are just chicken scratch, I can barely make out what he wrote.

figurative Her signature was nothing but chicken scratch, indicating her lack of commitment.

Grammatical Forms of chicken scratch

past tense

chicken scratched

plural

chicken scratches

comparative

more chicken scratch

superlative

most chicken scratch

present tense

chicken scratches

future tense

will chicken scratch

perfect tense

has chicken scratched

continuous tense

is chicken scratching

singular

chicken scratch

positive degree

chicken scratch

infinitive

to chicken scratch

gerund

chicken scratching

participle

chicken scratched

Origin and Evolution of chicken scratch

First Known Use: 1601 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The term 'chicken scratch' originated from the idea that chickens scratch at the ground with their feet, creating messy and illegible marks.
Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe messy or illegible handwriting, 'chicken scratch' has evolved to also refer to quick, hasty, or careless writing or drawing.