ferret out
Discover through persistence
To ferret out something is to discover it through persistent searching or investigation: It took months to ferret out the source of the leak.
The phrase comes from using ferrets to flush rabbits from burrows—you're digging into hidden places to expose what's concealed.
Often implies uncovering something deliberately hidden: ferret out the truth, ferret out corruption.
Excavate or reveal hidden
- exposeMake known publicly
- dig upUncover from underground
- root outDiscover and remove thoroughly
- bring to lightExpose hidden information
flush out · smoke out · dredge up · turn up · extract · winkle out · nose out · sniff out
Locate through effort
- detectNotice or discover
- identifyEstablish who or what
- ascertainDiscover through investigation
- determineEstablish through investigation
learn · discern · uncover · locate · pinpoint · establish · verify · confirm
Thorough examination or tool
- sift throughExamine methodically for findings
- dig intoExplore or consume vigorously
- search outLocate through deliberate effort
- scrutinizeInspect with close attention
sleuth · examine · explore · research · look into · get to the bottom of · pursue · follow up
unearth
Excavate or reveal hidden
bring to light · flush out · smoke out · dredge up · turn up · extract · winkle out · nose out · sniff out · track down
find
Locate through effort
determine · learn · discern · uncover · locate · pinpoint · establish · verify · confirm · figure out
probe
Thorough examination or tool
- sift throughExamine methodically for findings
- dig intoExplore or consume vigorously
- search outLocate through deliberate effort
scrutinize · sleuth · examine · explore · research · look into · get to the bottom of · pursue · follow up · check out
disclose
Reveal hidden information
lay bare · make known · bring out · air · leak · betray · give away · let slip · spill · blow the lid off
- detectiondetect, discover, find, identify, locate
- discoveryfind, finding, discovery, discover, finding out
- investigatinginvestigate, examine, inspect, probe, search
- revealreveal, disclose, expose, unmask, unveil
- root outroot out, flush out, smoke out, weed out, uproot
- pursuitchase, chasing, pursuit, chase down, pursue
ferret outstumble upon
Find unexpectedly
stumble across · chance upon · happen upon · luck into · run into