| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | cut; make a mark on |
| Synonyms: | claw, damage, etch, grate, graze, incise, lacerate, mark, prick, rasp, rub, scarify, score, scrape, scrawl, scribble |
| Antonyms: | heal, mend, smooth |
| Main Entry: | abort |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | stop or cancel something |
| Synonyms: | arrest, break off, call it quits, call off, check, cut off, drop, end, fail, halt, interrupt, knock it off, lay off, nullify, scrap, scratch, scrub, terminate |
| Antonyms: | continue, keep |
| Main Entry: | apply |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | work hard |
| Synonyms: | address, be diligent, be industrious, bear down, bend, buckle down, commit, concentrate, dedicate, devote, dig, direct, give, give all one's got, give best shot, give old college try, grind, hammer away, hit the ball, hustle*, knuckle down, make effort, peg away, persevere, plug*, pour it on, pull out all stops, scratch, study, sweat*, throw, try, turn |
| Main Entry: | back out |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | withdraw |
| Synonyms: | avoid, back down, back pedal, beg off, blow it off, cancel, chicken out, cop out, get cold feet, give up, go back on, recant, renege, resign, scratch, shy from, surrender, throw in the towel, weasel out, welsh, wiggle out, worm out |
| Main Entry: | chafe |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | rub, grind against |
| Synonyms: | abrade, bark, corrode, damage, erode, excoriate, gall, grate, graze, hurt, impair, inflame, irritate, peel, ruffle, scrape, scratch, skin, wear |
| Notes: | to chafe means to rub until sore or worn; to chaff means to tease good-naturedly |
| Main Entry: | chafe |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | annoy |
| Synonyms: | abrade, anger, annoy, bother, exasperate, exercise, fret, fume, gall, grate, harass, incense, inflame, irk, irritate, itch, offend, provoke, rage, rasp, rub, ruffle, scrape, scratch, vex, worry |
| Antonyms: | make happy |
| Main Entry: | chicken out |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | back down |
| Synonyms: | avoid, back down, back out, back pedal, beg off, beg off, blow it off, bow out, cancel, chicken out, cop out, cop out, funk out, get cold feet, get cold feet, give up, give way, go back on, have no stomach for, make concessions, pull out, recant, renege, resign, scratch, shy from, surrender, throw in the towel, turn yellow, weasel out, welsh, wiggle out, wimp out, withdraw, worm out, worm out, yield |
| Main Entry: | claw |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | using sharp nail |
| Synonyms: | break, dig, graze, hurt, itch, lacerate, mangle, maul, open, rip, scrabble, scrap, scrape, scratch, tear |
| Main Entry: | creak |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | grind, grate with high noise |
| Synonyms: | chirr, crepitate, groan, rasp, scrape, scratch, screech, sound, squeak, squeal |