draw out
(redirected from draw him out)draw out
1. To entice someone or something to come out of hiding. A noun or pronoun can be used between "draw" and "out." I set a bowl of cat food by the fence, with the hope of drawing out the feral cat I'd seen earlier.
2. To elicit one to reveal or produce something, such as information or emotion. A noun or pronoun can be used between "draw" and "out." I swore my sister to secrecy, but I'm worried that dad will be able to draw the story out of her. It's amazing how the director is able to consistently draw out stellar performances from her actors. That book managed to draw out a lot of emotions that I had buried.
3. To extend something for a longer period than is or seems necessary. A noun or pronoun can be used between "draw" and "out." Just when I thought the professor couldn't draw out this lecture any more, he droned on about torts for another half hour.
4. To remove something from something else. A noun or pronoun can be used between "draw" and "out." The doctor drew a tongue depressor out of the jar and told me to open my mouth.
5. To cause someone to speak willingly. A noun or pronoun can be used between "draw" and "out." Meredith is so friendly that she draws quiet people out very easily.
draw someone out
on someone or something and draw someone out about someone or something; draw someone out to bring out someone's private thoughts about someone or something. I tried to draw him out on this matter, but he would not say any more. I tried to draw out the speaker, but she would not elaborate on what she had said. Fred wanted to draw out information about the company's plans, but the controller had nothing to say.
draw out
1. Pull out, extract, remove, as in She drew out her pen, or Let's draw some money out of the bank. [c. 1300]
2. Prolong, protract, as in This meal was drawn out over four hours. The related expression long-drawn-out means "greatly extended or protracted," as in The dinner was a long-drawn-out affair. [1500s]
3. Induce to speak freely, as in The teacher was good at drawing out the children. [Late 1700s]
draw out
v.
1. To pull something out of some other thing: The sheriff drew a gun out of a holster. The burglar drew out a knife.
2. To lure someone or something out of some state or place: The teacher's voice drew me out of my daydream. The hunters tried to draw deer out into the open.
3. To make something longer than usual or necessary; prolong something: The emcee drew out his introduction until the performers were ready. The speaker drew the lecture out so that it would last the entire class.
4. To induce someone to speak freely: The doctor managed to draw the shy child out. The staff's kindness drew out the reserved patient.
5. To extract information from someone: The police drew out the truth from the suspect. The kids' parents drew the real story out from them.