come to the scratch

English

Verb

come to the scratch (third-person singular simple present comes to the scratch, present participle coming to the scratch, simple past came to the scratch, past participle come to the scratch)

1. (prizefighting) To step up to the scratch or mark made in the ring to be toed by the combatants in beginning a contest.
2. (figurative, colloquial) To meet an antagonist or a difficulty bravely.