verb
flush
To force someone or something out of hiding.
The dog flushes a rabbit from its hiding place.
Etymology
The hunting verb describes driving birds from cover. Its broader use applies the same forced emergence to other hidden animals, people, or concealed things.
More examples
- Hunters walk through the tall grass to flush out pheasants.
- The officers flushed the suspect out of the abandoned building.
- Moving the boxes risks flushing mice out of hiding.
Forms
flush · flushes · flushed · flushing