itch
gb/ˈɪt͡ʃ/ us/ˈɪt͡ʃ/
A2
English
viszketés, viszket, viszket valamitől, viszketést okoz, vágy, késztetés, alig vár, vágyik
NOUN
B1
1
viszketés
B1
Usage pattern:
have/feel an itch (on/in [body_part])
I’ve got an itch on my ankle from a mosquito bite.
Szúnyogcsípés miatt viszket a bokám.
This cream helps relieve the itch within a few minutes.
Ez a krém néhány percen belül enyhíti a viszketést.
The itch kept me awake all night.
Learner examples
My arm has an itch.
Viszket a karom.
I scratched the itch and felt better.
Megvakartam, ahol viszketett, és jobban éreztem magam.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *I have itchy* instead of *I feel itchy* or *I have an itch*.
Meaning
uncomfortable feeling needing scratching
Collocations
have an itch
|feel an itch
|an annoying itch
|a persistent itch
|relieve an itch
|scratch an itch
|an itch on my arm
|mosquito-bite itch
|skin itch
|stop the itch
Synonyms
irritation (More general; not always a scratchy skin feeling.)
|
pruritus (Medical/technical term for itching.)
Antonyms
comfort (The opposite of an unpleasant skin sensation.)
|
relief (A state after the itch has stopped.)
Themes
health
|body
|daily_life
Definition
A bad feeling on your skin that makes you want to scratch.
An unpleasant feeling on the skin that makes you want to scratch.
VERB
A2
2
viszket
B1
Usage pattern:
[body_part] itches; [someone] itches (all over)
My eyes itch when the pollen count is high.
Viszket a szemem, amikor sok pollen van a levegőben.
This sweater makes my neck itch.
Ettől a pulóvertől viszket a nyakam.
The rash itched for days.
Learner examples
My back itches.
Viszket a hátam.
My skin is itching.
Viszket a bőröm.
Common mistake:
In English we often use the body part as the subject: *My back itches* (not only *I itch*).
Meaning
feel an itch on skin
Collocations
my skin itches
|my back itches
|itch badly
|itch a lot
|start to itch
|itch all over
|itch after a bite
|itch at night
|still itching
|itch constantly
Synonyms
tingle (Can be similar, but often means a light prickly feeling, not necessarily needing to scratch.)
Antonyms
feel fine (No discomfort or urge to scratch.)
Themes
health
|body
|daily_life
Definition
To feel like you need to scratch your skin.
To have an uncomfortable skin sensation that makes you want to scratch.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
[something] itches [someone]/[someone]'s [body_part]
Wool always itches my neck, so I avoid it.
A gyapjútól mindig viszket a nyakam, ezért kerülöm.
That bug spray itched my skin, so I washed it off.
Attól a rovarriasztótól viszketni kezdett a bőröm, ezért lemostam.
The bandage started to itch my arm after a few hours.
Learner examples
This shirt itches my neck.
Ettől az ingtől viszket a nyakam.
Soap can itch my skin.
A szappantól viszkethet a bőröm.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with *irritate* in general contexts; *itch* is mainly about the skin feeling.
Meaning
cause someone to feel itchy
Collocations
itch my skin
|itch my arms
|itch my scalp
|itching fabric
|wool itches
|the label itches
|this detergent itches
|make me itch
|itches like crazy
|really itches
Synonyms
irritate (Broader; can be physical or emotional, while *itch* is usually physical (skin).)
Antonyms
soothe (Makes the skin feel calmer and less irritated.)
|
calm (Reduces irritation or discomfort.)
Themes
health
|body
|clothing
Definition
To make someone’s skin feel like it needs scratching.
To cause an itch or make the skin feel uncomfortable and in need of scratching.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
4
Usage pattern:
an itch to do [something]; an itch for [something]
After a year in the same job, she felt an itch to try something different.
Egy év után ugyanabban az állásban vágyat érzett arra, hogy valami mást próbáljon ki.
He had an itch for adventure, so he booked a last-minute trip.
Kalandvágy hajtotta, ezért az utolsó pillanatban lefoglalt egy utat.
I got an itch to start painting again.
Learner examples
I have an itch to travel.
Nagyon vágyom rá, hogy utazhassak.
She has an itch to learn a new skill.
Vágyik rá, hogy elsajátítson egy új készséget.
Common mistake:
This sense is metaphorical; it does not mean a skin problem.
Meaning
strong desire to do something
Collocations
an itch to travel
|an itch to write
|an itch for adventure
|a creative itch
|an entrepreneurial itch
|satisfy an itch
|a sudden itch
|an old itch
Synonyms
urge (Common and neutral; can be strong or mild.)
|
craving (Often stronger and sometimes linked to food or addictions.)
|
hankering (More informal; often a playful desire.)
Antonyms
disinterest (No desire to do something.)
|
reluctance (Hesitation or unwillingness.)
Themes
emotions
|goals
|lifestyle
Definition
A strong feeling that you really want to do something.
A strong desire or urge to do something, especially something new, exciting, or slightly risky.
VERB
B2
INFORMAL
5
Usage pattern:
[someone] is itching to do [something]; [someone] is itching for [something]
I’m itching to get out of the office and enjoy the weekend.
Alig várom, hogy kijussak az irodából, és élvezzem a hétvégét.
She was itching to tell him the good news.
Alig várta, hogy elmondhassa neki a jó hírt.
They’re itching for a rematch after last night’s loss.
Learner examples
I’m itching to go home.
Alig várom, hogy hazamehessek.
He is itching to start.
Alig várja, hogy elkezdhesse.
Common mistake:
Usually used in progressive forms (*I’m itching to…*). It’s less common to say *I itch to…*.
Meaning
really want to do something
Collocations
itching to go
|itching to leave
|itching to tell you
|itching to get started
|itching for a chance
|itching for a fight
|itching for news
|itching to see
|itching to try
|itching to ask
Synonyms
be eager (More neutral and less vivid than *itching*.)
|
be dying to (Stronger and more informal; emphasizes impatience.)
|
long to (Often more emotional or romantic; can sound more literary.)
Antonyms
dread (Strongly not want to do something.)
|
be reluctant (Not willing or slow to agree.)
Themes
emotions
|goals
|daily_life
Definition
To really want to do something soon.
To want very strongly to do something or to have a restless desire for something to happen.
Grammar
Dictionary form
itch
IPA
GB/ˈɪt͡ʃ/
US/ˈɪt͡ʃ/
Syllables & stress
itch (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (itch)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: itch
- Plural: itches
Verb
- Base: itch
- 3rd Person Singular: itches
- Present Participle: itching
- Past: itched
Word family
Forms
itches
noun
itching
verb
itched
verb
Core family
itchy
adjective
Related words
itchiness
noun
Expressions
have itchy feet
1/hˈæv ˈɪt͡ʃi fˈit/
idiom
informal
want to travel or change
To feel like you want to travel or leave and do something new.
Examples
- After two years in the same city, he started to get itchy feet.
- She has itchy feet and rarely stays in one job for long.
- Every winter I get itchy feet and plan a trip somewhere warm.
Learner examples
- I have itchy feet.
- She has itchy feet and wants to travel.
scratch an itch
1/skɹˈæt͡ʃ ən ˈɪt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
rub skin to stop itching
To scratch your skin because it itches.
Examples
- He scratched an itch on his elbow and went back to work.
- Try not to scratch the itch, or it may get worse.
- I scratched an itch on my leg without thinking.
Learner examples
- I scratched an itch on my arm.
- Don’t scratch the itch.
scratch that itch
1/skɹˈæt͡ʃ ðˈæt ˈɪt͡ʃ/
idiom
informal
satisfy a strong desire
To do something you really want to do, so you stop wanting it so much.
Examples
- I took a short photography course to scratch that itch.
- A weekend road trip should scratch that itch for travel.
- He started a small side project to scratch that creative itch.
Learner examples
- I traveled to scratch that itch.
- She started painting to scratch that itch.
the seven-year itch
1/ðə sˈɛvən jˈɪɹ ˈɪt͡ʃ/
idiom
relationship restlessness after years
The idea that people may get bored in a relationship after seven years.
Examples
- They joked about the seven-year itch when they started arguing more often.
- The movie plays on the idea of the seven-year itch.
- Some people think the seven-year itch is a real pattern, others don’t.