Idioms

rummage

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rummage around

To dig or root around aimlessly (in or through some cluttered location). Usually used in the continuous tense. I think I can hear Tom rummaging around up in the attic again. A raccoon had gotten into the dumpster and was rummaging around for something to eat. He walked into the office and caught two men rummaging around.
See also: around, rummage

rummage around for (something)

To dig or root around aimlessly (in or through some cluttered location) in order to find something. A noun or pronoun can be used between "around" and "for" to specify where one is looking. Usually used in the continuous tense. I think Tom's rummaging around for something up in the attic. A raccoon had gotten into the dumpster and was rummaging around for something to eat. I caught my brother rummaging around my purse for money again.
See also: around, for, rummage

rummage around in (something)

To dig or root around aimlessly in or through some cluttered location. Usually used in the continuous tense. I caught my brother rummaging around in my desk again. A raccoon was rummaging around in the dumpster for something to eat.
See also: around, rummage

rummage around in (something) for (something)

To dig or root around aimlessly in or through some cluttered location in order to find something. I caught my brother rummaging around in my purse for money again. A raccoon was rummaging around in the dumpster for something to eat.
See also: around, for, rummage

rummage through (something) (for something)

To dig or root around aimlessly in or through some cluttered place or collection of things in order to find something. I caught my brother rummaging through my purse again. A raccoon was rummaging through the dumpster for something to eat. We spent the whole afternoon rummaging through old photographs of Granny Mary, picking the best ones for her memorial service.
See also: rummage, through
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

rummage around (somewhere) (for something)

to move things about haphazardly while looking for something somewhere. Alice rummaged around in the drawer for a candy bar she had been saving. After she rummaged around for the candy bar, she found it. She rummaged around in the old trunk.
See also: around, rummage

rummage through something

to move things about haphazardly while searching through something. I rummaged through my top drawer, looking for any two socks that matched. Mary spent some time rummaging through the toolbox before she found what she was looking for.
See also: rummage, through
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
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References in periodicals archive
Bethlehem Lutheran Church in West Dundee continues its annual rummage sale from 9 a.m.
3 themed areas at Bethlehem Lutheran rummage sale
Band members and their families brought rummage sale items in Friday evening and filled the gym with a wide variety of offerings, including clothing, household items, furniture, toys and electronics.
HHS band rummage sale a hit, director says
The neighborhood not only shops at this rummage sale, but they look forward to visiting with others who attend this event year after year.
Not just another rummage sale
Donations for the rummage sale are appreciated, but no outdated or large electronics or TVs please.
Religion -- Special events
HARRISBURG -- More than 70 families of Harrisburg High School color guard and marching band members will host a huge rummage sale Saturday inside Davenport Gymnasium.
Harrisburg color guard, band hosting huge rummage sale Saturday -BYLN- By Travis DeNeal tdeneal@dailyregister.com
The money collected from the rummage sale helps pay for maintenance and equipment to keep the aging WOW Hall - originally the home of the Workers of the World labor union - in good shape, Fennessy said.
Finding the joys of rummaging
A RUMMAGE sale is being held at St Agnes' Church, Broughton Avenue, Easterside, Middlesbrough on Saturday at 10.30am.
Action day cuts injuries
(From left) Pearl Chick, Pat Atkins, Heather Street, Anne Collins and Jo Russell in Bazaar and Rummage at the Co-operative Theatre, Wyken.
Funny way to face fears
The rummage sale at the Scout Hall in Wylde Green is from 10.30am on Saturday.
Everything to go at sale; WYLDE GREEN
Those instructions were designed to rummage through the infected computer's files in search of addresses of other likely targets for infiltration.
Worming into a computer's vulnerable core
The HM Customs and Excise museum will be organising an Easter bunnies rummage, and an Easter extravaganza will take place at The Conservation Centre.
Easter treats for children
Meanwhile, from November 8 to January 20, IVAM, Valencia, will rummage through the closets of the equally intriguing Claude Cahun, artist, philosopher, writer, and gender terrorist par excellence.
SUFFER! SUFFER!
Former Simple Minds manager Jimmy Devron stumbled across a rare session by the Housemartins - featuring Norman on bass - when he decided to rummage around in the skip.
Skip to Fatboy's beat
Congregation Beth Judea Rummage Sale: 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Fundraisers
It is the job of the National Deep Rummage Team (NDRT) to seek out caches of contraband hidden on huge commercial vessels capable of carrying up to 14,000 containers, equal to a 44-mile long train.
The ghost ship where UK's most elite drug busters train
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