rake up

British  

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to revive, discover, or bring to light (something forgotten)

   to rake up an old quarrel

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rake up Idioms  

1. Revive, bring to light, especially something unpleasant, as in She was raking up old gossip. [Late 1500s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rake up

While eager to imbue him with reverential status, the Party is simultaneously wary that almost any discussion of Mao's legacy could rake up uncomfortable memories.

From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2026

The giant planets brawl among themselves, too, competing to rake up excess material and grow more giant still, sometimes ejecting the unlucky losers from the system in a “last planets standing” melee.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 19, 2023

As we rake up leaves and pods from our neighbor’s tree every fall, we remind ourselves what a gift the shade was all summer.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 28, 2022

Afterward rake up the sod manually with a square shovel or pitchfork.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 21, 2020

“Pull everything out, sort it. If there’s anything salvageable, put it aside. Make a pile for the dump. Then just rake up around there. It’s such a mess.”

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings