Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

scruff-of-the-neck

noun

/skrʌf əv ðə nɛk/

Definition

The loose skin at the back of an animal’s neck.

Examples

He picked up the puppy by the scruff of the neck to keep it from running away.
The mother cat carried her kittens by the scruff of their necks.
In a moment of frustration, he felt like someone had grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and shaken him awake.

Meaning

This term is often used to refer to the area of loose skin found on the neck of some animals, and it’s also used metaphorically to describe grabbing someone by the neck in a firm way.