ferretsomethingout
phrasal verbwithferretverbinformaluk/ˈfer.ɪt/us/ˈfer.ɪt/
tofindout apieceofinformationorfindsomeone or something, afterlookingin manyplacesoraskingmanyquestions:
[+ question word]Iknowhisnamebut I haven'tmanagedtoferretoutwherehelives.
to search for something
- searchI've searched everywhere and can't find my passport.
- lookShe was looking in her handbag for a pen.
- huntI've hunted all over the place but I can't find that book.
- rummageHe rummaged through his pockets, looking for his keys.
- ferret outThe inspector general has broad powers to ferret out fraud on the state and local level.
- combPolice combed the area for evidence.
Finding and discovering
- a fishing expeditionidiom
- ascertain
- break (fresh/new) groundidiom
- breakthrough
- bringsomethingto lightidiom
- catchsomeonered-handedidiom
- flushsomeone/somethingout
- fossick
- found
- geocache
- pinpoint
- putsomeoneontosomething
- putyourfinger onsomethingidiom
- rake
- rakesomethingout
- red-handed
- rediscover
- rumble
- sniff
- uncover