ferret out
[verb]
Synonyms: track down, dig up, discover, elicit, root out, search out, trace, unearth

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Antonyms: squirrel (away)
Contrasted words: conceal, hide, screen, secrete, camouflage, disguise, cover (up), hush (up), suppress
Related Words: elicit, extract, nose out, pry (out), penetrate, pierce, probe, chase, follow, pursue, trail, ascertain, determine, discover, learn

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

ferret somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verb (see also ferret)

1. to succeed in finding something such as a piece of information, that is difficult to find:
It’s been difficult for reporters to ferret out the facts in this case.
Uncle Vernon ferreted out the laundry box from under the stairs.

2. American English to find and usually get rid of someone who is causing a problem:
The new program is meant to ferret out problem cops.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

ferret out
ferret out (something)
to discover something after careful searching.
Officials say they will ferret out abuses in the welfare program.

If you're looking for owners of abandoned property, it can take years to ferret them out.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

ferret out something
ferret out (something)
to discover something after careful searching.
Officials say they will ferret out abuses in the welfare program.

If you're looking for owners of abandoned property, it can take years to ferret them out.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

ferret out
literary or smell out|sniff out v. To hunt or drive from hiding; to bring out into the open; search for and find.
John ferreted out the answer to the question in the library.
Jane smelled out the boys' secret hiding place in the woods.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲