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Glite Dictionary
to nose out

to nose out

1 6.9
Find something after careful searching
  • phrasal verb
  • /noʊz aʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : descubrir
  • "It's a pleasure to stick it to that guy," Jay told me one afternoon, after he'd loudly rooted in a long shot to nose out Fido's even-money favorite in a stakes race, causing the tout to bolt white-faced out of his box.

Examples

  • After weeks of research, the detective was finally able to nose out the truth behind the missing artwork.

  • If you know what's good for you, keep your damned nose out of other people's business.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • And dear Cam, I don't bitch about your politics, so keep your nose out of mine.

    Blog text (29)

  • Hey, if you are going to get your nose out of joint so easily, perhaps it's time to worry less about the color of your skin and more about its thickness.

    Blog text (29)

  • Sales-resistance-wise and competition-wise, we have nosed out every other brand from coast to coast.

    It's Always Fair Weather (1955)

  • And sales-resistance-wise and competition-wise, we've nosed out every other brand from coast to coast.

    It's Always Fair Weather (1955)

  • In the meantime, SOS, a local watchdog group, keeps a close eye, ear, and nose out for any changes in the quality of life in the rapidly growing neighborhood around the facility.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Interestingly, he stated that I "had been rated as highly as the first choice in our search but had nonetheless been nosed out on affirmative action grounds.

    Academic text (2000)

  • Its shrill whine faded to be replaced by the deeper pulse of the jumper's multiple power plants as it nosed its way out of the hangar.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The journalist worked hard to nose out the details of the scandal that had shocked the city.

Synonyms

to find
vsto nose out
∞ 1.0

To discover something while looking or by accident

centers on deliberate detection after searching rather than accidental finding
to detect
vsto nose out
763 3.2

Find something that is hard to notice

adds the sense of doing so after an active, careful search or investigation
to turn up
vsto nose out
155 3.0

To find something while searching or by chance

implies intentional detection after careful searching rather than chance discovery
to pick up on
vsto nose out
142 3.9

To notice something that is not obvious

emphasizes active searching and deliberate detection rather than subtle noticing
to spy
vsto nose out
40 3.1

To notice something suddenly or after looking for it

is about deliberate discovery following careful investigation rather than sudden noticing
to probe
vsto nose out
  • Literature
35 5.1

To ask careful questions to find hidden information

relies more on searching actions rather than question based inquiry
to unearth
vsto nose out
23 4.4

To find hidden facts or things by careful searching

is narrower in aiming at detection after focused inquiry
to scope out
vsto nose out
  • Informal
18 5.4

To look carefully at a place or person to get information before you act

focuses on discovery that follows investigation rather than preparation for action
to sniff out
vsto nose out
  • Informal
15 4.0

Find something by searching, often by smell

is broader, meaning detection after careful search without sensory imagery
to ferret out
vsto nose out
  • Informal
13 6.7

To search carefully to find hidden facts or documents

focuses on finding through careful but not necessarily long persistence
to smell out
vsto nose out
2 5.1

Find something hidden by noticing small signs

is more neutral, focusing on discovery through careful investigation rather than clever intuition
to rout out
vsto nose out
  • UK
5.5

To find something after a careful search

is similar but stresses careful discovery after investigation rather than just thorough searching
to scent out
vsto nose out
5.6

To find something by smell or by careful searching

is literal about careful search and detection without sensory metaphor

How Clear

to uncover
243 3.5
to nose out
  • Informal
1 6.9
to detect
763 3.2
to notice
∞ 1.0
to sense
629 4.2

Surface Forms

nose out infinitive
nosed out past
nosed out past participle
nosing out present participle
noses out third person singular

Morphology

nose + out

The verb 'nose' already means to detect or investigate and the particle 'out' conveys bringing something into view or discovery, so their combination directly yields 'to discover or detect'. The 'sniffing out' metaphor is common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer this meaning.

Etymology

Nose out comes from the image of a dog pushing its nose into holes and bushes to find hidden animals. So to nose out something means 'to discover' it after careful searching.