scratch the/an itch

1 of 2

phrase (1)

chiefly US, informal

: to satisfy a desire or need for something

Sign up for a tour of Asia and scratch the itch to travel.

scratch the/that itch

2 of 2

phrase (2)

: to satisfy an urge to do something

Maybe it's time to scratch the/that itch to travel I've had since I was a kid.

Examples of scratch the/an itch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Phrase

Age of Attraction, meanwhile, will scratch the itch of those in need of reality TV escapism. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Feb. 2026

To the casual observer, using a broom to scratch an itch might not seem like an act of genius. — Kate Wong, Scientific American, 19 Jan. 2026

Phrase

Plus, if readers are anything like the PEOPLE team who have been inundated with drool-worthy clips of Caramelized Banana Matchas from The Nitro Bar, a coffee shop in Rhode Island, then this order can certainly scratch that itch. — Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 3 Feb. 2026

The show truly captured the vibes of Stine’s books — just spooky and weird enough to scratch that itch for a young, burgeoning horror fan, but without anything scary enough to send a kid to therapy. — Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026