to pump
- verb
- /pʌmp/
- He tried to pump her for details about the secret project.
That's a tell of somebody who's pumping us for information.
- That's a tell of somebody who's pumping us for information.
Examples
-
Apparently, he'd really been looking forward to this opportunity to pump Simenon for some information.
Fiction book (1991) -
Alone with the impatient lawyer, Betty examines a vase as she pumps him for info. # BETTY #
Fiction book (1995) -
I may have to pump her for information.
-
Bill resolved to pump Mark for all he was worth.
Fiction book (1998) -
He's going to pump you for dirt on me.
-
As they walked along St. Clair Avenue, he pumped her about her life.
Fiction book (1996) -
On the way out to the street, I tried to pump Topsy for information about Scott and Gerald Luftweiller.
Fiction book (1995) -
The detective would pump the suspect until he revealed the truth.
-
During the meeting, she began to pump him for more information about the upcoming changes.
Synonyms
To ask someone questions to get information
To question someone firmly to get information
To annoy someone by asking them the same thing many times
Ask someone many quick questions until they cannot answer easily
Phrasal Verbs
Compounds
- Specialized
A device that moves water or coolant through a car engine to prevent overheating
- Specialized
A machine that moves heat from outside air or the ground into a building to warm it
- Specialized
A machine that moves oil to engine parts to cool them and make them move smoothly
- Specialized
A machine that removes air or gas from a closed space so there is almost no air left
- Specialized
A small machine that moves liquid to help the main pump when needed
- Specialized
A machine that uses moving water or other liquid to move liquid higher and raise its pressure
- Specialized
A sliding lever on a shotgun or rifle that loads a new round when you move it back and forth
- Jargon
A plan that uses false news to raise a stock price and sell shares, leaving other investors with losses
- Specialized
A machine that removes food and liquid from the stomach by sucking in poisoning cases
- Specialized
A machine that moves water or other liquid by spinning it and pushing it into a pipe
- Specialized
A device that makes a very strong vacuum by turning gas into liquid on cold surfaces
- Specialized
A machine that uses a jet of vapor to remove gas and make a very strong vacuum
- Specialized
A pump that uses a fast jet of water or steam to pull in and move another liquid
- Specialized
A machine that removes gas from a closed space to make a very strong vacuum
- Specialized
A protein or tiny machine that uses energy to move ions across a cell membrane
- Specialized
A machine that removes gas from a sealed space by using electricity to make gas stick to metal
- Specialized
Adding water to a machine that moves water so it seals and starts working
Pliers with angled jaws you adjust to grip and turn nuts, bolts, or pipe fittings
- Literature
Local political issues that focus on small community matters instead of national problems
- Literature
Pays attention to small local political issues instead of national concerns
- Literature
A focus on small local issues and interests instead of wider public needs
- Literature
Discussions about small local issues that do not matter much outside the area
- Specialized
A machine used during surgery to remove blood and other fluids from the body
- Specialized
A machine used in surgery to remove blood, fluid, or tissue from the body
- Archaic
A small hand tool you set on the ground and use to spray water to fight small fires
- Specialized
A machine placed under water to move water up from a well
How Persistent
Surface Forms
Etymology
To pump someone for information is a simple image: like pumping water from a well, you ask again and again to make the information come out, so to pump a person is to question them repeatedly.