casting about
Seeking in vain
Casting about means searching or looking around, usually when uncertain what you're seeking or where to find it.
The phrase suggests scattered, exploratory movement—physical or mental: She cast about for an excuse, He was casting about the room for his keys.
The image is of throwing out lines in different directions, like a fisherman trying to locate fish.
- seekingAttempting to find
- looking aroundVisually scanning one's environment
- ideatingForming mental concepts
- deliberatingCarefully thinking before deciding
- mulling overThinking carefully about
analyzing · rummaging · imagining · speculating · hunting · questing · groping · feeling around · evaluating · fumbling · grasping at straws · scouring · floundering · at a loss · foraging · pondering · investigating · probing
casting aboutbeelining
Going directly toward
zeroing in · homing in · tracking down · single-minded pursuit
cast, casting, casts, caster, casters, recast, recasting, broadcast, broadcasting