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# scuffle

noun (a scuffle, scuffles); verb (scuffle, scuffles, scuffled, scuffling)

«scuffle» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A scuffle is a short, confused fight with pushing and grabbing, usually not very serious. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scuffle/#m1)
2. To scuffle means to fight in this way. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scuffle/#m2)
3. To scuffle (along) means to walk dragging your feet, or to make a scraping noise. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scuffle/#m3)

### In the lessons

Used in news, school incident reports and stories about fights in the playground or at football matches. It tells the reader the fight was short and messy, not a big battle. Phrases: «a scuffle broke out», «a brief scuffle», «be involved in a scuffle», «scuffle with».

### Examples

- A scuffle broke out in the lunch queue. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scuffle/#x1)
- Two boys scuffled over a football. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scuffle/#x2)
- There was a brief scuffle, but no one was hurt. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scuffle/#x3)
- Police broke up a scuffle outside the stadium. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scuffle/#x4)
- We heard something scuffling in the attic. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scuffle/#x5)
- He scuffled along in his slippers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scuffle/#x6)
- The teacher stepped in before the scuffle got worse. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scuffle/#x7)
- Then a great scuffling of feet was heard, and in a few minutes the hall was clear. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scuffle/#x8)

### Note

Countable noun; verb scuffled, scuffling. Close words: scrap, tussle, altercation (formal), brawl (bigger and wilder). Not the same as «shuffle» (walk slowly dragging feet, or mix cards), although they sound alike.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «scuffle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/scuffle/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«scuffle» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/scuffle.html) on Mova free.