gratter

I.

v. trans.

1. To beat, to get the better of someone. Il pensait me gratter, mais je l'ai eu au finish: He thought he could beat me, but I showed him who was boss.

2. To 'show a clean pair of heels', to pass someone, to overtake. Il a été gratte d'une longueur (Racing slang): He was beaten by a length.

3. Gratter les fonds de tiroir: To scrape the bottom of the financial barrel.

4. Gratter du jambonneau: To play the mandolin or the guitar.

5. En gratter pour: To be 'spoony on', to 'have a crush on', to be infatuated with. Je crois qu'elle en gratte pour ma pomme: I think she's doolally on me.

II.

v. intrans. To work, to be employed. Il gratte chez Renault: He's got a job with Renault. Dans ce boulot il faut drôlement gratter: If you want to keep that job you've got to graft.

III.

v. trans. reflex.

1. To hesitate, to want to think things over. Je me gratte pour savoir si je pars en vacances: I'm not quite sure I want to go on holiday.

2. Pouvoir toujours se gratter (iron.): To 'have another think coming', to be under a serious misapprehension. Il peut toujours se gratter s'il pense que je vais lui prêter du fric! He doesn't stand a cat-in-hell's chance of getting any money off me!

3. Se gratter la couenne: To be bored to sobs. (This is a jocular reference to shaving as in the synonymous expression se raser.)