winkle out
Coax reluctantly forth
To winkle out is to extract something with effort and persistence, especially information or a person from a secure position.
The image comes from prying a winkle (a small edible sea snail) from its shell—a fiddly, patient task.
It took months to winkle out the truth.
They finally winkled him out of his hiding place.
Chiefly British.
Thorough examination or tool
- extractConcentrated derived substance
- interrogateQuestion formally and persistently
- questionRequest for information
- sleuthPrivate investigator
scrutinize · delve · research · inquire · examine · sift through · piece together · get to the bottom of
Reveal what's hidden
- unearthExcavate or reveal hidden
- findLocate through effort
- detectNotice or discover
- elicitDraw out by effort
obtain · expose · reveal · bring to light · dig up · track down · hunt down · get at
Lever or snoop
Extremely careful and thorough
- determinedFirmly committed to purpose
- patientAble to wait calmly
- thoroughComplete in every detail
- methodicalOrganized and deliberate
dogged · tenacious · meticulous · careful · laborious · gradual · persistent · slow
probe
Thorough examination or tool
- extractConcentrated derived substance
- interrogateQuestion formally and persistently
- questionRequest for information
sleuth · scrutinize · delve · research · inquire · examine · sift through · piece together · get to the bottom of · pursue
uncover
Reveal what's hidden
elicit · obtain · expose · reveal · bring to light · dig up · track down · hunt down · get at · root up
pry
Lever or snoop
painstaking
Extremely careful and thorough
- determinedFirmly committed to purpose
- patientAble to wait calmly
- thoroughComplete in every detail
methodical · dogged · tenacious · meticulous · careful · laborious · gradual · persistent · slow · deliberate
- root outuproot, eradicate, root up, hunt down, track down