ferret out

1. Uncover and bring to light by searching, as in Sandy was a superb reporter, tireless in ferreting out whatever facts were needed for her story. This expression alludes to hunting with ferrets, weasel-like animals formerly used to drive rabbits out of their burrows. [c. 1600]

Example Sentences

The modern discipline of psychology would ferret out the private motives of regular and refined collectors alike.

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We will ferret out students who protest against my policies.

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Taylor ferrets out the secret with her bloodthirsty relentlessness and immediately raises pandemonium.

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The controversy prompted a more broadly-based movement to ferret out other Vietnamese celebrities suspected of conspiring against the country.

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The fact that Duffy is wasting his time by making these threats and combing through awarded contracts to ferret out such putative violations is, however, a settled question: Of course he is.

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Related Words

• ascertain 
• bring to light 
• drive out www.thesaurus.com
• get at 
• sniff out 
• uncover 
• unearth