flush out

Force into open

To flush out is to drive something from concealment into the open.

Hunters flush out game from underbrush; investigators flush out the truth.

The phrase often implies forcing hidden things to reveal themselves: The audit flushed out several accounting irregularities.

Sometimes confused with "flesh out," which means to add substance or detail.

cleanse

purge

Eliminate unwanted elements

clearWithout obstruction or fog
drainChannel for wastewater
expungeDelete entirely, officially

evacuate · irrigate · sluice · douche · swab · scour · detoxify · eliminate · discharge · void

expel

rout

Overwhelming one-sided victory

dislodgeForce from position
scare upObtain with difficulty
stampedeFrenzied mass flight

disperse · scatter · evict · oust · eject · displace · startle · spook · bolt · spring

develop

expand

Increase in size

elaborateComplex and detailed
fill inTemporarily replace someone
completeLacking nothing, fully done

detail · substantiate · augment · enrich · amplify · develop · extend · refine · enhance · bulk up

Categories

root outuproot, eradicate, root up, hunt down, track down
pursuitchase, chasing, pursuit, chase down, pursue
removalremove, elimination, delete, erasing, erase

Opposites

concealment vs. exposure

flush outhide

Conceal or pelt

conceal · cover up · bury · obscure · secrete

investigative approach

flush outoverlook

Miss or commanding view

ignore · let lie · let sleeping dogs lie · gloss over · leave alone

completeness of development

flush outsketch out

Describe in general terms

outline · abbreviate · condense · strip down · pare down

Family

out, flush, flushed, fluster, outflow, flushing, flushes, outflanks

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G