ferret out

Idioms  

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]

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Example Sentences

The Spanish credited her with ferreting out plots against them and helping to recruit Indigenous warriors to Cortés’ ranks.

From Los Angeles Times

Such information can be hard enough to ferret out in democracies.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From The Wall Street Journal

We will ferret out students who protest against my policies.

From Salon

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

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ascertain
• bring to light
• drive out
• get at
• sniff out
• uncover
• unearth