Itch an itch or scratch an itch?

[Lily-Anne-Marie]

According to dictionary.com you can use the word 'itch' to substitute scratch. Or so it was interpreted by my boyfriend.

verb (used without object)
1. to have or feel a peculiar tingling or uneasy irritation of the skin that causes a desire to scratch the part affected: My nose itches.
2. to cause such a feeling: This shirt itches.
3. Informal. to scratch a part that itches.

Is he right? He interpreted it to say you can itch an itch.  

[eJayPierre]

Yep. I've heard this before. However, it's more slang usage than actually "correct" per se.  

[Sachiko13]

That's something that has bothered me since elementary school. Itch is a sensation of your skin, and scratch is what you do to your itch. Even in third grade, if I said my arm itched and someone said, "so itch it!" I would flip out about their improper grammar - to myself, at least. I was so unpopular at that point that it wouldn't have mattered if I actually said anything about it or not.  

[Shoko-Howlette]

I really think that it has become the 'norm' to say, "i gotta itch my foot"

I dont think that it is correct but I have a therory.....

Its easier to say:

EX: I have to scratch the itch on my foot.

The lazy way: I gotta itch my foot.

I believe that it is formed the same way as this example.

EX: I have to tie the laces on my shoes. (note that this IS the correct way to say it)

The lazy way: I gotta tie my shoe.

-I really believe that this combined with the fact that itch is an easier word to say is what has brought about this weird use of words.  

[Ellenl]

Wow. That's strange.
I'm surrounded by people who say, "I'm itching to scratch my itch."
But maybe because I'm insane. Who's to tell?
Although I have to admit that three times out of five I say, "I've got to itch my foot."
You just can't help it at times.
But to say "I've got to itch an itch" sounds pretty weird to me.
Then again, who's to tell?

 

[Miss_Rag]

When I was little, I always said, "I'm itching it," and the like.
It stuck.
I still do it! I can't stop! |3  

[Abnormal Munchkin]

Sachiko13

That's something that has bothered me since elementary school. Itch is a sensation of your skin, and scratch is what you do to your itch. Even in third grade, if I said my arm itched and someone said, "so itch it!" I would flip out about their improper grammar - to myself, at least. I was so unpopular at that point that it wouldn't have mattered if I actually said anything about it or not.

haha, you remind me of myself. I am a total grammar Nazi, but I don't correct anyone.

Anyways, that does bother me, but -thankfully- no one I know uses "itch" as a verb.  

[DontKicktheBrit]

Oh I hear that all the time, and it's a bit annoying.  

[Psychotic Daizy Dukes]

(The new Nina Orusa)

Mainly because my family doesn't speak English correctly, they say, "Don't itch!"

However, I am kind enough to correct them, and so far, they're getting better at it. (English is a third or fourth language for us.)