ferreted around
Dug through stuff
To ferret around is to search persistently, poking through places where things might be hidden: She ferreted around in the drawer for her keys.
The phrase evokes a ferret hunting prey in burrows—thorough, determined, slightly chaotic.
Often implies rummaging rather than systematic searching.
- dugRemoved earth by shoveling
- pokedPushed briefly with finger
- rummageSearch unsystematically through clutter
- gropedFelt about blindly
- shuffledMixed into disorder
scrabbled · seek · clawed · nosed · find · sifted · noodled · pawed · turned over · investigate · probe · delve · unearth · fumbled · persist · rustled · scour · pry
search intensity
ferreted aroundignored
Purposely not noticed
overlooked · passed over · disregarded · glossed over · skimmed
concealment vs. discovery
ferreted aroundhid
Kept out of sight
concealed · buried · covered up · suppressed · secreted