dredge

dredge someone or something up

1. . Lit. to scoop something up from underwater. The workers dredged the lifeless body up from the cold black water. They dredged up the mud from the riverbed.

2. Fig. to use some effort to seek and find someone or something. I will see if I can dredge a date up for Friday. Can you dredge up a date for me? I don't have a wrench here, but I'll see if I can dredge one up from the basement.

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dredge up something also dredge something up

1. to remember something from the past He hates it when people dredge up the crimes that happened here 20 years ago. You're not dredging that old idea up again, are you?

Usage notes: often said about something unpleasant

2. to find something after a lot of looking We've finally dredged up enough money to have a proper lab with proper equipment.

See also: up