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

See Examples For:

ferret out

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 15, 2026

They’re all law-abiding people, and this directive ostensibly aims to ferret out terrorists and criminals.

From Slate ● Dec. 17, 2025

We will ferret out students who protest against my policies.

From Salon ● Oct. 18, 2025

The so-called Department of Government Efficiency set up its own internal team at the agency to ferret out information from its files.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 10, 2025

“It was while she was on the Block. They try to ferret out a soldier’s potential weaknesses. So they flooded the street,” says Haymitch.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

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