ferret out
搜寻出
ferret是雪貂，从前的狩猎者经常训练牠来捕捉兔子等小 动物。牠能从树丛中、洞穴里找出猎物并拖出来。所以ferret out这个动词词组就成为「搜寻出」、「翻找出」的意思。而 ferret about就是「四处翻找」。
Israeli military officials say privately that if they were to retaliate for Iraqi assaults on their territory, they would happily go after Saddam. But even with their renowned ability to ferret out foes，the Israelis cannot get a fix on him.(出自：TIME，Feb. 4，1991，p. 48)
以色列军官私下表示，如果要对伊拉克袭击领土的行为展开报 复，他们很乐意去追讨海珊总统。然而，即使以色列搜寻出敌人 的能力有目共睹，他们还是无法确知海珊的行踪。