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ferret out

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
ferret something out (from something)
Fig. to fetch something out from something. We will have to ferret the mouse out from behind the stove. We can ferret out the mouse with the aid of the cat.
See also: out

ferret something out (of someone or something) and ferret something out

Fig. to get, remove, or retrieve something from someone or something, usually with cunning and persistence. I tried very hard, but I couldn't ferret the information out of the clerk. I had to ferret out the answers one by one.
See also: out

ferret out something also ferret something out
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.
See also: out


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? References in classic literature
"No, I only ferret out things that may be of some use to me," was the unexpected reply, uttered with an air of perfect vacancy and swallowed by Mr.
"I'll tell you something more," he continued, just as it seemed he had finished, and just in time to interrupt Daughtry away from his third attempt to ferret out the true inwardness of the situation on the Mary Turner and of the Ancient Mariner's part in it.
Afterwards my friend took the trouble to ferret out the complete record of that man for me.
 
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