When someone says "coming up scratch", they may be referring to failing or not meeting expectations. This phrase can also be substituted with other synonyms such as falling short, not measuring up, or lacking. In the context of sports, "coming up scratch" may mean not performing well enough to qualify or win a competition. In the workplace, it could mean not meeting deadlines or producing subpar work. It's important to be aware of how our language can affect others and try to use more positive expressions instead. Instead of saying "coming up scratch", we could say "learning experience" or "room for improvement".