1.by the scruff of the neckHOLDif you hold a person or animal by the scruff of their neck, you hold the skin, fur, or clothes at the back of their neck 抓住颈背,揪住脖子;抓住衣领
Examples from the Corpus
by the scruff of the neck• It just caught me by the scruff of the neck and practically hammered my guts out.• One had hold of the other by the scruff of the neck and had fetchedblood.• Three were dragged back on to the train and taken by the scruff of the neck from station to police car.• Your eyes narrow against the claws gripping you by the scruff of the neck until you let your hook of anger go.
2.[countableC]British EnglishBrE informalUNTIDY someone who looks untidy or dirty 邋遢的人
Examples from the Corpus
scruff• Eventually he pulled her off and dragged her away by the scruff of her neck.• As though some enormousbeastnuzzled her then picked her up in its mouth by the scruff of her neck.• Three were dragged back on to the train and taken by the scruff of the neck from station to police car.• He reappeared, grasping the unfortunate by the scruff of his shabbycollar.• Quiss heaved the small attendant up by the scruff of its neck until its face was level with his.• One wondered when actor Ron Silver would finally shave the scruff he has been passing off as a beard.
Originscruff
(1700-1800)scuff“back of the neck”((18-19 centuries)), perhaps from Old Norseskoft“hair of the head”